In a ceremony today at the Hilton hotel, Huawei honoured the national and international finalists of the Huawei ICT Competition and recognised the exceptional skills of college students. The event also marked the launch of the 2024–2025 Huawei ICT Competition, a prestigious annual program that enhances students’ ICT abilities.
The Huawei ICT Competition has drawn hundreds of enthusiastic competitors since its launch. The Huawei-Ministry of Education competition attracted almost 2,500 youngsters this year alone, and 120 of them advanced to the national finals. Interestingly, nine of these gifted players competed for Ethiopia in the regional tournament in Tunisia, where they placed third. Additionally, three students placed third in the worldwide final event held in Shenzhen, China, demonstrating their impressive achievement.
The significance of the ICT Competition was emphasised during the ceremony by Mr. Liming Ye, Huawei Ethiopia’s PR Manager, who stated, “The Huawei ICT Competition provides our youth with invaluable benefits, acting as a catalyst for their personal and professional development.” Students that participate in this competition gain personal experience with cutting-edge technologies, which enhances their technical skills and prepares them for the competitive job market. He reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to assisting the next generation in gaining critical ICT skills.
The competition’s indispensable nature was emphasised by Seminew Keskes, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Innovation and Technology, saying, “Programs like the Huawei ICT Competition not only give our young minds essential technical skills but also foster critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation.” These attributes are crucial for developing the next generation of innovators and leaders who will prosper in a rapidly changing technology environment. He said he was excited for the next round of the tournament and expected even more chances for teamwork and innovation.
The CEO of the Ministry of Education’s ICT and Digital Education, Zelalem Assefa, talked about how the platform assists students in finding employment and cultivating an entrepreneurial attitude. He praised Huawei for its consistent support of Ethiopian youth through initiatives like the ICT academy and the competition.
Dereje Engida, president of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, delivered an impressive speech on the significant benefits of industry-academia collaboration. He talked about how students have benefited from AASTU’s partnership with Huawei by gaining practical experience, which has resulted in job openings from the competition.
Abenezer Desalegn, an AASTU participant who is currently employed by Huawei and has multiple Huawei certifications, discussed his competitive experience, highlighted the skills he acquired, and urged other college students to sign up for the Huawei Academy and competitions in order to broaden their horizons. As part of the occasion, Huawei officially inaugurated the 9th global 2024–2025 ICT Competition, and online registration is still available through the end of December.
Based on their achievement in the national finals, nine exceptional students who participated in the network, cloud, and computing tracks received awards during the ceremony. Depending on their results, they were awarded a variety of gadgets, such as the Huawei MatePad, Huawei Watch, and Huawei FreeBuds. The business also recognises professors from different universities who contributed to students’ success.
The Huawei ICT Competition is an annual initiative designed to foster and showcase the skills of students in the field of information and communication technology (ICT). Aimed at cultivating talent and innovation among the youth, the competition provides participants with a platform to demonstrate their knowledge and practical abilities in various ICT disciplines, including networking, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. By engaging with cutting-edge technology and real-world scenarios, students not only enhance their technical prowess but also gain invaluable insights into the demands of the global tech industry.