Lys Esther Karikumutima and Ruth Nibitanga
Lys Esther Karikumutima
Lys Esther Karikumutima is an ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoy and the Executive Director of the East African Impact Hub. She is passionate about advancing digital inclusion, community empowerment, and ethical technology governance across East Africa.
Lys participated in the ITU–EIF project “Tech as a Driver of Women’s Economic Opportunity,” which provided women in Burundi and Ethiopia with digital skills and tools to enhance their economic empowerment. Through this initiative, she contributed to creating pathways for women to leverage technology for entrepreneurship, financial independence, and sustainable livelihoods.
Through the East African Impact Hub, Lys leads initiatives that bring digital access to underserved areas, giving young people their first exposure to laptops, online learning, and digital creativity. These efforts open new opportunities for education and entrepreneurship while equipping youth with the skills to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Her work bridges grassroots innovation and policy development, grounded in the belief that true digital progress must empower communities, safeguard data, and ensure equal participation for all. Through her leadership, Lys continues to inspire and drive the creation of a more connected, informed, and inclusive digital future for the region.
Ruth Nibitanga
Ruth is a young entrepreneur from Burundi. She a community manager and the Director of digital communications at Leapa.
Ruth, who has a background in economic and international commerce, participated in the ITU–EIF project “Tech as a Driver of Women’s Economic Opportunity” specializing in e-commerce and digital marketing. For Ruth, technology is a “booster that makes possible progress that we could not have imagines”.
Check her video story
