The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Julius Ogamba, joined academia, students, and industry stakeholders, including Safaricom and UNESCO, at the Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 Awards Ceremony. In his keynote address, he emphasized education’s pivotal role in Kenya’s digital transformation, reinforcing the government’s commitment to positioning education at the forefront of the nation’s technological advancement.
Hon. Ogamba highlighted ICT’s transformative potential, stating, “Education empowers our people, reduces inequality, and builds a prosperous future. As we transition to a knowledge-driven economy, investment in ICT education is paramount.” He reiterated the Ministry’s dedication to equitable access to quality education, ensuring students are prepared for 21st-century workforce demands.
Public-private partnerships were underscored as key to advancing Kenya’s digital agenda. “Collaborations with institutions like Huawei, Safaricom, and UNESCO are critical in integrating technology into education, training lecturers, and bridging skills gaps in emerging fields like 5G, AI, and Cloud Computing,” he noted. The Huawei ICT Competition aligns with national goals, offering students industry exposure and career opportunities while complementing initiatives like the Open University of Kenya and Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Mr. Michael Kamau, Head of Huawei ICT Academy, emphasized Huawei’s investment in nurturing talent. “Through talent transformation and cultivation, we address industry needs while building a sustainable digital ecosystem,” he said. The competition provides a global platform for students to excel in fields like AI and networking, with Kenyan students consistently performing well.
This year, 21,000 students from 18 Sub-Saharan African countries participated, with 21 Kenyans qualifying for the Regional Finals. Twelve will advance to the Global Finals in Shenzhen, China, while also attending a tech immersion program in Johannesburg. “These achievements reflect the power of academia-industry collaboration,” Hon. Ogamba remarked.
A notable milestone was the increased participation of female students. “We are seeing the impact of advocating for girls in technology, with five female students progressing to the Global Finals for the first time,” Kamau noted. Among them was Rukia Mohammed, a JKUAT Telecommunication Engineering student and Top Prize Winner, who aims to mentor young women through volunteering.
“In my university (JKUAT), not all students are knowledgeable about these opportunities, so I will first volunteer to be a Huawei instructor this coming year before I finish my undergraduate studies,” said Rukia.
Determined to bridge the gender gap in technology, she added:
“I’m going to ensure girls take up this golden opportunity spearheaded by Huawei and partners through a program at the university dubbed She Tech Africa. My focus will be empowering girls to undertake such opportunities. I want to mentor girls and inspire them to pursue technological courses and explore careers in the ICT field.”
“I’m going to ensure girls take up this golden opportunity spearheaded by Huawei and partners through a program at the university dubbed She Tech Africa. My focus will be empowering girls to undertake such opportunities. I want to mentor girls and inspire them to pursue technological courses and explore careers in the ICT field.”
Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, JKUAT Vice Chancellor, praised partnerships for empowering future innovators. “The Huawei ICT Academy empowers the next generation of tech innovators. This partnership provides students with invaluable resources and opportunities that will shape their careers and our digital future,” said Prof. Ngumi.
Safaricom’s Senior Manager for Government Relations Ms. Wanjiku Njire urged finalists to leverage their skills in solving real-world challenges like climate change and health. She challenged the finalists saying: “Innovate. Collaborate. Challenge the status quo. We encourage you to deploy your skills to solve present real-world challenges like climate change, education, health and food security among others.”
Since 2018, the Huawei ICT Competition has engaged over 2,700 universities globally, trained 11,000+ teachers, and equipped 1 million+ students with ICT skills. Over 500 participants have secured jobs through Huawei’s Talent Job Fair, with top performers fast-tracked into Huawei’s Management Trainee Program.
The competition exemplifies how public-private collaborations can drive digital education, preparing students for tomorrow’s workforce.
