A group of three Ugandan students is representing Uganda at the Huawei Global ICT competition in South Africa.
The three Makerere University students including Kenneth Magola, Stephen Okello, and Gerald Mudulo will represent Uganda after emerging to best during the preliminary and national final Huawei ICT exams in the country.
They will now represent the country to compete with other African countries and later fly to China to compete with the rest of the world if they win the regional finals in South Africa.
The Sub-Sahara African finals of the Huawei Global ICT Competition, under the theme of "Connection, Glory, Future", kicked off on 10 September with an online opening ceremony.
The competition is believed to be the biggest event of its kind in Africa covering 14 countries and attracting over 50,000 students.
Globally the Huawei ICT Competition 2019-2020 has covered over 70 countries worldwide, with 150 000 contestants from more than 2,000 universities and colleges.
Launched in the region five years ago, the Huawei ICT competition has developed into the largest ICT skills competition in Africa.
During the opening ceremony attended by industry partners, UNESCO and students, Huawei Southern Africa VP, Liao Yong highlighted the significance of connectivity in the era of social distancing.
“The digital divide is actually widening under the new normal caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. As people migrate, more work and study online, the digitally disadvantaged people are hit harder，“Liao said.
In a recent UNESCO webinar, digital infrastructure was identified among the most prominent challenges facing higher education in Africa.
“Holding the online version of ICT competition during the pandemic has a unique value, it shows that Huawei, as a pioneer in building African digital infrastructure, also takes its talent strategy very seriously. It encompasses three aspects; digital upskilling ICT professionals, encouraging and enabling ICT students, and promote ICT literacy among ordinary people,”Liao added.
