The Mountain Journal
By James Wakahiu
Kenya will be represented by 18 university students in the Global Huawei ICT
Competition slated for next month in China.
The students from different universities will be led by Daniel Ochola, a Bachelor Science in Information Technology at Mount Kenya University (MKU) Thika Campus. The representatives were picked after they participated in the
Southern Africa Regional Competition on March 15, 2024 which was graced by Education Cabinet Secretary, Mr Ezekiel Machogu.
Ochola, in the regional awards emerged among the top three winners out of the 6,000 students who participated in the 2023/2024 competition.
A total 21 Kenyan students in the regional awards got cash prizes and Huawei products as their lecturers got internships and job offers.
Photo/ Daniel Ochola who will led a Kenyas’ students to Global Huawei ICT
Competition. Photo: James Wakahiu
“Our collective effort was rewarded with a second-place finish, just behind a formidable Nigerian team,” says Ochola.
MKU official Mr John Kamau, Ochola has remained a focused student and it's his
first time to participate in a high level competition.
“As MKU, we are proud to have produced a leading student to represent Kenya in the international arena,”said Kamau.
The Huawei ICT Competition was initiated in 2015 as part of the Huawei ICT
Academy, in a collaborative effort to enrich the ICT talent pool by transferring the
latest knowledge from a global technology leader.
According to Ochola, the announcement of a competition by the Huawei Talent
ICT Academy, featuring tracks in cloud, computing, and networking, was a clarion
call for him.
He says the journey has been demanding, commencing with enrollment and independent study, succeeded by a preliminary examination in November 2023.
Ochola said his win is a chronicle of determination, support and technological
passion that has propelled him onto the international stage. “It all began with a
spark of curiosity and a drive to immerse myself in the ever-evolving world of
technology,” he says.
“The cloud track, emphasizing cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and big
data, aligned perfectly with my goal to pioneer technological advancements. MKU
has been more than an educational establishment to me; it has been a cradle for my
dreams,” he says.
Ochola praises the university’s cutting-edge facilities and progressive stance on
ICT education for furnishing the ideal environment for him to refine his skills and
gear up for the contest. The competition started with enrollment and independent
studies, succeeded by a preliminary examination in November 2023.
“The national examination was a fierce contest, but with the wisdom and backing
from my university, encapsulated in the motto “Unlocking Infinite Possibilities”, I
secured the second position among the select few chosen based on merit,” he said.
The Huawei academy representatives recognized the potential of the competitors
and prepared them for the regional final examination in February 2024. “Training
at the Huawei office in Lavington for two months was an incredible experience,
providing a glimpse into the professional world and allowing us to interact with
industry experts,” he says.
In Kenya, Huawei has established ICT Academies in over 50 universities and
colleges, providing access to cutting-edge technology training in networking, cloud
computing, 5G, and AI. Annually, these academies train more than 4,000 students,
contributing significantly to the ICT skills landscape.
The Huawei hardware installation base in Kenya has been recognized by the
Ministry of ICT Innovation and Youth Affairs, playing a pivotal role in nurturing
Kenya’s ICT talent pool and supporting national development initiatives.
Meanwhile, Kenyatta University (KU) has hosted a Clean Energy Bootcamp that
brought together university students and members of staff from four to collaborate
in workshops to further develop their Clean Energy innovations. The forum
brought together university students and members of staff from Uganda (Makerere
University Business School), Kenya (KU and MKU), and Germany’s Albert-
Ludwigs-Universität to collaborate in workshops to further develop their Clean
Energy innovations.
Photo/ Some of the students who were awarded prizes during the Southern Africa Regional Awards for Huawei ICT Competition held on March 15, 2024 in Nairobi.
By James Wakahiu
According to Mr Donatus Njoroge, the Head of Innovation, Intellectual Property
and community Outreach at MKU, during the Boot Camp held at Maasai Lodge in
Nairobi, the innovators had the opportunity to further develop and sharpen their
ideas in discussion with other innovators and entrepreneurs. “The students were
given opportunities to work creatively with interested business stakeholders,” he
said.
He said the aim was to expose the students to real world parameters. “We wanted
to encourage and energize them so that they can meet their long-term goals by
exposing them to the real world needs. We also let them pitch to the business
community,” he added.
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