The 2024/2025 ICT Competition and Summit, hosted by Huawei in Johannesburg, South Africa, brought together the best in digital innovation talent from across Sub-Saharan Africa. The event was attended by esteemed guests, including Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, the South African Minister of Higher Education and Training, who delivered a keynote address. She emphasized the importance of digital skills in driving economic growth and job creation in Africa. “Digital skills are a critical component of Africa’s development agenda. We must ensure that more people have access to digital technology and training programs that equip them with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. Huawei’s commitment to supporting skills development in South Africa is a key component of our Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Huawei in this area,” she stated.
A Celebration of Digital Innovation Excellence
The competition showcased remarkable talent across various tracks, including network, cloud, computing, and AI innovation. Teams from Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria received awards for their outstanding performances, with Kenya dominating the grand prizes in both computing and cloud categories. An all-women team from Nigeria secured the grand prize in network excellence, while Uganda took home the grand prize in AI innovation. The event also featured a high-level signing ceremony, where Huawei entered into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with Kenya’s Ministry of Education. The partnership aims to enhance ICT infrastructure, foster digital talent, and bridge the skills gap in the technology sector.
Insights from the Panel Discussion
A panel discussion on the landscape of digital talent in Southern Africa featured educational experts, including Ephraim Munene, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Gugu Sema, and Sharan Gouda. Sharan Gouda provided insights into Huawei’s approach to developing digital talent: “At Huawei, we prioritize the cultivation and transformation of ICT talent skills through practical experience. We believe that this approach is essential in building a robust talent ecosystem that supports the rapid growth of industries.”
The panel discussion also highlighted the importance of partnerships between educational institutions, governments, and private sector companies like Huawei. The discussion emphasized the need for structured training programs, competitions, and industry-aligned programs to prepare students for the dynamic digital landscape.
A Glimpse into Huawei’s Talent Development Strategy
Kenneth Igwe, Talent Development Manager/Service Delivery Project Manager at Huawei Technologies, presented a case study on Nigeria’s talent ecosystem. The presentation highlighted Huawei’s successful partnership with Nigeria and the achievements of the ICT Competition and ICT Academy that led to two Nigerian teams winning grand prizes at the global final in Shenzhen, China. Since its inception in 2013, Huawei has partnered with over 3,000 universities around the world to build Huawei ICT academies, covering more than 110 countries and cultivating over 1.1 million students. To date, Huawei has established 500 ICT academies in the South Sahara African region, with over 35,000 students. In 2024, ICT Academy students earned nearly 500 Huawei career certifications, while 550 students are working either for Huawei or Huawei Partners.
The Road Ahead
This year’s regional grand prize-winning teams will represent Sub-Saharan Africa at the Global Finals in Shenzhen, China in May 2025, where they will compete against the world’s best ICT talent. The teams are from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Nigeria and Ghana. The event marked an exciting milestone in the journey of digital innovation in Africa, and Huawei looks forward to continuing its partnership with governments, educational institutions, and private sector companies to support skills development and drive economic growth.
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