Kenya City: Three Egerton University students will participate in the global final of the Huawei ICT Competition 2024/2025 set for Shenzhen, China, this May after the trio scooped the competition’s national and regional titles.
According to Kenya News Agency, the three, Peterson Kariuki, Denis Syengo, and Eric Karimi Muriithi, received cash prizes and Huawei products for their excellent performance. They pledged to work hard and win at the global finals, making Kenya proud.
Egerton University Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage underscored the importance of ICT technological skills and collaboration between academia and industry leaders. He lauded Huawei Kenya for organising the ICT competition, saying the gesture would address the skills gap in the digital economy.
The VC emphasized that Kenyan educational institutions recognize the importance of using technology in teaching and in producing a workforce with high technology skills. Partnerships with industries such as Huawei and international organisations like UNESCO support the training of lecturers and students in high-end ICT skills such as IoT, AI, and cloud computing, showing a commitment to addressing the skills gap in the ICT sector in the country.
Prof. Kibwage described the Huawei ICT competition as a noble initiative that brings the latest curriculum and knowledge to Kenyan students, providing them opportunities to gain international exposure and internships, which he noted are vital and complementary to university education.
He encouraged more students taking STEM courses at local universities to participate in future Huawei ICT competitions, stating that it is an opportunity for Kenyan students to showcase their ICT skills. He highlighted benefits such as training and certification, internships, and job placement opportunities.
Prof. Kibwage also thanked the Ministry of Education for collaborating with the university to ensure the competition’s success and enabling young people to build their skills and promote innovation. He stressed the need to continue creating value from the Digital Superhighway, paving the path for youth around the country to have a brighter future.
Huawei Technologies Kenya CEO, Gao Fei, noted that Huawei has established ICT Academies in over 50 universities and colleges in the country, providing access to cutting-edge technology training in networking, cloud computing, 5G, and AI. These academies train more than 4,000 students annually, contributing significantly to the ICT skills landscape.
Fei stated that the annual competition is part of Huawei’s commitment to nurturing digital talent and enhancing ICT skills among the youth, aligning with Kenya’s digital transformation agenda. The Huawei ICT Competition offers students a platform to demonstrate their knowledge in key ICT areas such as Networking, Cloud Computing, AI, 5G, and Cybersecurity.
The competition provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, access training resources, and network with industry professionals, contributing to the development of Kenya’s ICT sector. The CEO emphasized that the competition is integral to developing the next generation of ICT leaders and offers participants unique opportunities to sharpen their skills with access to free learning materials, expert mentorship, and industry-recognised certifications.
Top-performing students have the chance to win potential job offers at Huawei and its partners and represent Kenya on the global stage, competing against other bright finalists from around the world.
Initiated in 2015, the Huawei ICT Competition is a collaborative effort to enrich the ICT talent pool by transferring the latest knowledge from a global technology leader. The 2024-2025 edition featured four distinct tracks: a Practice Competition with tracks in Network, Cloud, Computing, and Ascend Artificial Intelligence, along with an innovation competition focusing on real-world problem-solving using ICTs.
The Huawei hardware installation base in Kenya has been recognised by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy for playing a pivotal role in nurturing Kenya’s ICT talent pool and supporting national development initiatives. Huawei has been a key partner in Kenya’s digital transformation efforts, providing cutting-edge ICT solutions and nurturing local talent through training programmes such as the Huawei Seeds for the Future and the ICT Academy, alongside the annual ICT Competition.
