Earlier this week, I had the privilege of facilitating a 2-day digital marketing training workshop for Rwanda Internet Community and Technology Alliance (RICTA) certified .RW registrars at the Onomo Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills!

RICTA is the not-for-profit organization responsible for managing the .RW country code top-level domain (ccTLD) and the Rwanda Internet Exchange Point (RINEX), supporting local content creation and digital growth across Rwanda. ccTLDs like .RW are more than just domain names — they’re digital assets that build national identity, strengthen SEO, and provide trusted, localized digital spaces for businesses, organizations, and individuals.

The training, sponsored by Afnic from France, brought together approximately 25 registrars over the two days, all focused on expanding the .RW domain ecosystem. Special thanks to Grace Ingabire, CEO of RICTA, for her visionary leadership, and to Esperant Ntege, RICTA’s Marketing Lead, who ensured every detail was perfectly managed, from my arrival to the final wrap-up of the sessions. Their commitment made the entire experience seamless and impactful.

Over two days, we covered critical topics like customer persona development and journey mapping, social media content creation, digital marketing strategy, website optimization, and AI tools like ChatGPT, Sora, Perplexity, NotebookLM, and Gamma. The registrars also explored innovative ways to bundle .RW domains with complementary services to boost customer retention, reduce domain deletions, and drive long-term value.

It was inspiring to hear the registrars share their plans to apply these insights to attract more .RW domain registrations and strengthen Rwanda’s digital footprint. Their energy, creativity, and optimism for Rwanda’s digital future were truly inspiring, reminding me why I always enjoy spending time in this beautiful, forward-looking country.

Thank you again to RICTA, Afnic, and all the inspiring .RW registrars who participated. Here’s to a brighter, more connected digital future for Rwanda!