Dereje Engida, president of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, speaks during an awarding ceremony to recognize Ethiopian university students' achievements at the national, regional, and global finals of the Huawei Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Competition 2023/2024, which is also the launch of the next phase of the competition for the 2024/2025 academic year, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 31, 2024. Ethiopian officials and scholars have lauded Chinese tech giant Huawei for its "exceptional value" in providing essential skills and hands-on experience to Ethiopian youth on cutting-edge technologies. (Xinhua/Habtamu Worku)
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian officials and scholars have lauded Chinese tech giant Huawei for its "exceptional value" in providing essential skills and hands-on experience to Ethiopian youth on cutting-edge technologies.
They made the remarks on Thursday during an awarding ceremony to recognize Ethiopian university students' achievements at the national, regional, and global finals of the Huawei Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Competition 2023/2024, which is also the launch of the next phase of the competition for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Addressing the event, Dereje Engida, president of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU), said Huawei's capacity-building engagements in Ethiopia in general and its partnership with the university "are transforming the future of technology in Ethiopia."
He said the Huawei ICT Academy, one of the largest academies worldwide in the field, has injected much-needed momentum into empowering Ethiopian youth with the latest technological advancements. Over 1,100 AASTU students have joined the Huawei ICT Academy platform, and more than 3,000 students have taken part in Huawei's certification programs, ICT competitions, as well as the company's trademark "Seeds for the Future" initiative.
"Through these programs, our students have acquired essential skills in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity," said Engida.
"Our instructors have also benefited immensely from the Huawei ICT Academy. Through dedicated training and resources, they remain current with the latest technology standards, which strengthens our university's curriculum and empowers them to deliver high-quality education," he said.
He noted that the 2024 Seeds for the Future China Digital Trip, which was held alongside the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, has further strengthened the educational capabilities of Ethiopian students while also augmenting the cultural and professional ties between China and the wider African continent.
Zelalem Assefa, chief executive officer of ICT and Digital Education at the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, acknowledged Huawei's meaningful commitments to employment opportunities for Ethiopian university graduates.
Assefa further underscored the crucial role of Huawei's capacity-building initiatives in terms of boosting the entrepreneurial thinking and skills of Ethiopian university students.
At the awards ceremony, young Ethiopian beneficiaries of Huawei's capacity-building initiatives emphasized the valuable knowledge and skills they gained, which have significantly fueled their professional development ambitions. They further encouraged fellow Ethiopian university students to take full advantage of the unique opportunity offered by Huawei, which also includes employment opportunities at Huawei Ethiopia.
Recognizing the exceptional talents of university students for their achievements at the national, regional, and global stages of the 2023-2024 edition of the competition, the Chinese tech giant also on Thursday officially launched the ninth edition of the global 2024-2025 ICT competition, a flagship annual initiative fostering ICT skills among students, with online registration open until the end of December.
By participating in the competition, students are expected to gain experience with cutting-edge technologies to enhance their technical skills and prepare for the job market by developing critical ICT skills.
According to Huawei Ethiopia, the 2023-2024 ICT competition has attracted over 2,500 students, with 120 qualifying for the national finals. Nine students represented Ethiopia at the regional finals held in Tunisia and secured the third-place prize. A team of three Ethiopian students also took part in the global final in Shenzhen, China, securing third place. ■
Participants pose for a photo during an awarding ceremony to recognize Ethiopian university students' achievements at the national, regional, and global finals of the Huawei Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Competition 2023/2024, which is also the launch of the next phase of the competition for the 2024/2025 academic year, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 31, 2024. Ethiopian officials and scholars have lauded Chinese tech giant Huawei for its "exceptional value" in providing essential skills and hands-on experience to Ethiopian youth on cutting-edge technologies. (Xinhua/Habtamu Worku)
