Teams of students from across Sub-Saharan Africa have been recognised for their technological prowess at the regional finals of the Huawei ICT Competition and Summit held recently in Johannesburg. The event brought together students, educators and government partners to celebrate innovation in the digital sector.

The competition saw students demonstrate their abilities in network technologies, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and computing. Teams from Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria received awards for their strong performances.

Kenya emerged as a frontrunner, securing the top prizes in both computing and cloud categories. Notably, the winning cloud team from Kenya was comprised entirely of women. Nigeria's team excelled in network technologies, while Uganda's students took the top spot in AI innovation. A local team from South Africa was also recognised with the ICT Future Star Award in cloud computing.

The winning teams from this regional final will now proceed to the Global Finals in Shenzhen, China, in May 2025, where they will compete against top ICT talent from around the world. 

Digital skills development key

South Africa's Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, addressed the gathering, highlighting the critical need for digital skills development across the continent. "Digital skills are one of the most critical skills that are desperately required in Africa and governments cannot achieve this without the involvement of private partners like Huawei," she stated, commending the company's commitment to skills development in South Africa.

South Africa's Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane

The Minister expressed hope for continued collaboration with Huawei in areas such as talent training and smart campus development. “Together we will equip South Africa's youth not just with formal qualifications but with skills that will enable them to make meaningful contributions to the development of our country,” Nkabane noted. 

Yang Yongpeng, director of Huawei Southern Africa Region Human Resource Department, emphasised the company's dedication to bridging the digital divide in Africa. "The potential of the African digital economy is enormous and it is our common responsibility to ensure more people enjoy the dividends of digital technology," he said.

It was Beverlyne Ndombi from Kenya that walked away with the "Most Excellent Student" award for achieving the highest examination scores in the regional finals. Ndombi, an electrical and telecommunications engineering student, said the competition had enhanced her practical skills in areas like cloud computing, big data and AI.

Memorandum of Understanding signed

The event also saw the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding between Huawei and Kenya's Ministry of Education. The partnership aims to improve ICT infrastructure and foster digital skills development within technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions across Kenya. Dr. Esther Muoria, Principal Secretary for Kenya’s Ministry of Education, underscored the importance of integrating ICT learning for skills development and economic transformation in Africa.

A panel discussion featuring education experts explored the landscape of digital talent in Southern Africa. Sharan Gouda, partner development specialist from Huawei, highlighted the global shortage of digital skills and the company's efforts to build a robust talent ecosystem through practical experience. 

Huawei notes since its inception in 2013, the ICT Academy programme has partnered with over 3000 universities globally, including 500 in Sub-Saharan Africa, reaching over 35 000 students in the region. In the past year, students from these academies earned nearly 500 Huawei certifications, with 550 finding employment with Huawei or its partners.