By The Respondent reporter
Shenzhen, China – Huawei has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young minds in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by hosting the Huawei Digital Talent Research Camp for Sub-Saharan Africa, which took place from November 18 to 22, 2024, in Shenzhen, China.
This initiative is designed to equip African youth with advanced skills in digital industries, promote leadership knowledge, and provide self-employment opportunities. By fostering innovation, Huawei aims to nurture the next generation of digital leaders in Africa.
The camp, held at Huawei's global headquarters, brought together bright students from 17 Sub-Saharan African countries, including Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Mauritius. The program focused on several key digital themes, offering courses in cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G communications, digital power, and spectrum technologies. In addition to the technical sessions, the event featured a leadership forum to help shape the future leaders of Africa’s digital transformation.
Tanzania was represented by 10 top students from the University of Dar es Salaam, the University of Dodoma, and the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT). Huawei provided full sponsorship, covering travel, accommodation, and training, ensuring that the students could concentrate entirely on learning and growing their skills.
The event culminated in the Tech4Good competition, where students worked in teams to develop technology-driven solutions addressing various social challenges. This competition showcased the talent and creativity of young Africans and encouraged them to use digital tools to improve their communities.
The LEAP Digital Talent Research Camp is part of Huawei’s larger goal to nurture digital talent across Sub-Saharan Africa. Since its launch in 2022, the LEAP program has been a key part of Huawei’s strategy to bridge the digital skills gap on the continent. Huawei aims to train 150,000 youth over the next three years through this initiative, which focuses on fostering digital leadership, building a skilled ICT workforce, and preparing young Africans to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
By investing in local communities and addressing the specific digital talent needs of the region, Huawei is playing a crucial role in shaping the future of Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital economy. The company's efforts are expected to have a profound impact on the technological capabilities and economic prospects of the continent.