In a bid to support Kenya’s Digital transformation and provide ICT skills in Kenya, Huawei Technology has renewed their long-trusted partnership with the government. This will work to improve the provision of ICT skills, build capacity as well as infrastructure and IT Services.
During the ceremony where the signing of the second MOU between the ICT Authority and Huawei Deputy CEO Frank Zhou stated, ‘Huawei is keen on partnering with the government and other agencies on ICT projects that will go a long way in boosting the country’s economy For us, the signing of this MOU is proof of our continued commitment towards growing the ICT sector in Kenya.’
According to the World Bank and Huawei Connecting Index, there is a direct correlation of ICT development and the growth of a country economy. The Principal Secretary Ministry of ICT Mr. Victor Kyalo said that they are various opportunities available for ICT students. Programs like ‘Seeds for the Future’ and the Presidential Digital Talent Programme are a few of the opportunities the government has provided young people.
PS Victor Kyalo on the @HuaweiMobileKE seeds of the future program & what it means for Kenyan students going to China cc @ICTAuthorityKE pic.twitter.com/W3OFR2r3hb
— Rayray (@potentash) October 12, 2017
Under the previous MOU with the ICT Authority, a number of achievements by Huawei Technologies include the provision of internships to 100 students at the Huawei Kenya offices and the sponsoring of another 28 students to go to China for ICT training. There has also been a contribution to supporting youth initiatives, industry development, training and using ICT for development initiatives.
One of the Huawei flagships started under the MOU in 2014 included the ‘Seeds for the Future’ is focused on providing necessary ICT skills and work experience to ICT students. This is done to ensure that the students are equipped with the skills they will need once they are in the job market. This program provides these students with a great opportunity to travel to China for two weeks for intense ICT training on top of the two-month internship. They also get a chance to learn the language, taste the cuisines and enjoy the lovely scenery of being in a new place.
Speaking at the ceremony, Antony Njunge, one of the 9 students selected to benefit from the Seeds of the Future program said he looked forward to visiting the factory site to view the manufacturing of these amazing Huawei phones in their factory. A grand tour is usually in order to allow the students to enjoy some of the Chinese heritage.
This year, the students from Kenya have been selected to travel to Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen. Here they will go through training alongside others who have been selected from other Huawei offices all over the world. Talk about a great opportunity. Also, this year’s MOU is focused on ICT research and innovation, sharing ICT infrastructure and e-government services. Building ICT capacity in government and the ecosystem, promoting digital skills for university students and promoting ICT literacy amongst the disadvantaged and unemployed.
Huawei continues to lay out its digital transformation plans for various major ministries such as health, security, education, and transport among others in a bid to help the country fulfill its vision 2030.
