In celebration of International Women’s Day, Huawei Nigeria is honouring outstanding female students who have excelled in the Huawei ICT Academy, and the Women in Tech training programme (held in partners with the Office of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu), acknowledging their remarkable accomplishments in the training programmes.
A gathering in Abuja, preceding International Women’s Day on March 8, convened a diverse group of attendees, including high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, prominent industry figures, some beneficiaries from the training programmes, and members of the press.
The event, titled ‘Cultivating Talent Through ICT Training for a Prosperous Nigeria,’ aligns with the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ which emphasizes the importance of expediting progress toward achieving gender equality and promoting inclusive growth.
The ceremony paid tribute to women who have achieved outstanding success in their ICT training, affording them an opportunity to share their accomplishments and serve as role models, motivating and empowering the next generation of women in technology.
According to Huawei Nigeria Strategy Director, Eric Chen, the company has provided capacity building and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training to over 70,000 Nigerians since 2018.
A detailed breakdown reveals that the beneficiaries comprise over 30,000 students, 35,000 ICT engineers, 240 female entrepreneurs, and more than 3,000 civil servants, showcasing a diverse range of individuals impacted.
Chen emphasised Huawei’s significant role in supporting the present administration’s Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, primarily through its ICT Academy, and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at fostering economic growth and development.
According to him, “We celebrate the achievements of female participants in our ICT Academy and Women in Tech initiative, in collaboration with the First Lady’s office. We remain committed to empowering women in ICT and leveraging their potential to boost Nigeria’s digital growth.”
Also speaking, the Director of Policy, Research, and Strategy at the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mrs. Comfort Kabirwa, emphasised the crucial need for gender equality in technology.
She urged women to take an active role in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to propel Nigeria’s digital economy forward, recognizing the immense potential for growth and development that women’s participation in ICT can bring.
Kabirwa pointed out that globally, women make up a mere 26 percent of the tech workforce, a statistic that starkly highlights the pressing need for greater diversity and inclusion in the industry.
Huawei’s Senior Public Relations Manager, Dr. Oyin Abiola, underscored the company’s multifaceted approach to empowering individuals in the field of ICT.
Abiola said beyond providing training, Huawei also offers tangible opportunities for outstanding students to apply their skills in real-world settings through employment and internship programmes at the company
Founder, Protect the Child Foundation, Barr. Elizabeth Achimugu, said the Women in Tech training has empowered her with the knowledge to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scaling her organization’s impact, particularly in advocating for children’s welfare.
Olubukola Taiwo echoed similar sentiments, revealing that the programme enabled her to grasp the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and effectively integrate it into her business operations, leveraging AI tools to create engaging visual content such as videos, banners, cards, and flyers.
Imafidon Victoria Essoe, a 300-Level Cybersecurity undergraduate at Igbinedion University, credited Huawei’s ICT Academy with having a profound impact on her academic and professional pursuits. She said the academy’s provision of valuable certifications at no cost has been particularly instrumental in enhancing her career prospects.
Ogomudia Darlene, a 300-level Software Engineering student at Igbinedion University, described her experience with the programme as an engaging and enriching journey, noting that the training has significantly broadened her technical skills and knowledge.
Agwu Amarachi, a 500-level student of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology Minna, shared that she has acquired valuable technical skills through the programme, which has not only enhanced her academic pursuits but also opened up new career possibilities.
