Rukia Mwari Mohammed, a fourth-year student pursuing Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and Information Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology proudly took to the podium to deliver an address on behalf of exceptional students who emerged winners in different categories during the Huawei ICT Competition for 2024-2025 period.
The awards ceremony held on Monday March 24 in Nairobi brought together top university students, mentors, industry players, university leaders and government representatives.
Rukia was one of the three JKUAT students who were feted in the regional Huawei ICT Competition for 2024/25, that brought together over 21,000 students from 500 universities spread across 20 African countries. Like many of her contemporaries, the soft spoken student revealed just how crucial the competition mounted by the global technology company has been in nurturing young African talents in consequential technology domains.
“The Huawei ICT Competition has been a game-changer for me. It has strengthened my technical expertise, boosted my confidence, and provided me with a platform to meet young brilliant minds and amazing friends,” she noted.
Rukia emerged winner of the contest in the Network Track. Two other students from JKUAT namely Ephraim Shikanga (BSc Computer Science) won in the Computing Track, while and Banzy Nyaga (BSc Mathematics and Computer Science) bagged the top prize in the Cloud Track.
Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba who presided over the awards ceremony noted that the Huawei ICT Competition continues to be an important platform for nurturing young minds, equipping them with technical skills, and creating opportunities for future innovators and leaders in the ICT sector.
“Technology is the cornerstone of modern economies. As Kenya advances toward a digital future, it is critical that we empower our students with the necessary skills to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth,” the CS added.
Hon. Ogamba said that ICT skills had become the most sought by employers – making training for the sector a key priority for the government and partners like Huawei.
“The Huawei ICT Academy programme is a valuable initiative that equips educators with the latest knowledge and skills in cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence, data communications, and cloud computing,” the CS said.
The Huawei ICT Competition also saw JKUAT lecturers honoured as top mentors. Phillip Oyier, Jonathan Mwai and Wairimu Gichaiya were all recognized for their outstanding professional mentorship offered to students over the years. Their synergy in training and mentorship has seen JKUAT produce finalists at the regional competition, allowing JKUAT students to participate in the global Huawei ICT competition, held annually in Shenzhen, China.
This year, for instance, JKUAT has produced three out of twelve students from Kenya will be traveling to China in May 2025 for the global competitions.
Reacting to the excellent performance by JKUAT staff and students in the competition, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi said that the partnership between Huawei and Kenyan universities like JKUAT has provided students with valuable physical and virtual resources and opportunities that will no doubt have a lasting impact on their careers and Kenya’s development.
“This competition brings together the brightest minds from around the world in cloud, network, practice and innovation tracks – offering them the opportunity to showcase their theoretical and practical skills, creativity, and passion for ICT,” Prof. Ngumi said.
Mentor Philip Oyier noted that being part of the Huawei trainings makes it possible to infuse practical and on-demand skills to students, giving them an edge in the competitive job market.
Through the Huawei ICT Academy, over 500 lecturers and professors from Kenyan universities and TVETs have been trained thereby enhancing their technical expertise to bring real-world, practical perspectives into the classroom.
