Chinese communication equipment manufacturer Huawei has announced the launch of the ICT Skills Competition in Kenya. The contest will engage students in all universities and colleges specializing in IT and networking courses.
Huawei says the primary goal of the tournament is to create an enabling platform for students to showcase and implement theories learned in school, in addition to exposing them to the global technology market as the country transitions to the digital era.
It is worth noting that this is the second time Huawei has staged the fair in Kenya. Similar to last year’s round that attracted about 40,000 students from 32 countries in over 800 institutions around the globe, the 2018-2019 installment will start at the grassroots (preliminary levels) before going national and lastly, global.
National finalists will be prized with laptops and smart handhelds before they fly out to China for the finals.
“The response for the Huawei competition from Zetech University students was very good. Students from different levels participated in the registration process and all of them are excited about the exposure and opportunities they will get during and after the competition. We are pleased that the students are also interested in taking Huawei Certified Network Associate (HCNA) after the competition. We look forward to winning the national finals and represent our institution in the international finals in China,” said Samuel Kinuthia, Lecturer and Huawei Certified Academy Instructor (HCAI) from Zetech University at Zetech University during the first registration.
The second round of registration has already been concluded. The activity was carried out at Strathmore University in collaboration with iLab Africa and in Riara University. Additional competitors will follow in weeks to come.
“Kenya is one of the leading countries in Africa for technology producing some fantastic technology innovations. It has some of the best technology infrastructure on the continent and is a fast adopter of new innovations. There are many highly talented technology students and graduates which we know will be able to compete strongly on a global stage. We are keen to see Kenyan students representing their country in the international stage, and we are sure they will benefit a lot from participating in various rounds of the competition,” said Su Shuqi, Training and Certification Manager of Huawei Kenya.
Huawei’s ICT arm has been active in the Kenyan space based on its offerings in talent ecosystem construction, and ICT Academy programs, to mention a few. Its flagship program dubbed Seeds for the Future was started in 2014 in partnership with the ICT Authority.
Lastly, those who wish to register for the competition can do here, and have till August before the window closes.
