Huawei Technologies Limited, a global leader in information and communications technology, has organised a one-day training workshop for students at the University of Ilesa.
The event, held at the university’s Faculty of Computing, served as an introduction to the Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 and was aimed at building essential digital skills and fostering innovation among students.
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, highlighted the university’s commitment to empowering students with cutting-edge ICT skills to prepare them for a competitive global landscape.
Asaolu said that the workshop represents one of many efforts by the university’s leadership to provide students with world-class training opportunities, noting that the Huawei ICT Competition serves as an internationally recognized platform for young talents to sharpen their skills, display their knowledge, and connect with peers and professionals globally.
He commended Huawei’s dedication to cultivating ICT skills in Nigeria and beyond, stating, “We deeply appreciate Huawei’s dedication to fostering ICT skills in Nigeria and beyond, which aligns perfectly with our university’s vision to create globally relevant graduates.”
Speaking on behalf of Huawei, Okale Michael, a Huawei representative, explained that the competition is designed to bridge the ICT skills gap across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Michael noted that participants in the competition would receive hands-on training in critical areas such as network engineering, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and big data, supported by Huawei’s resources and mentorship.
According to him, the competition offers top-performing students a unique chance to advance to the global finals, where they will not only further develop their technical expertise but also gain invaluable exposure to career-building and networking opportunities within the ICT industry.
He also expressed gratitude to the University of Ilesa for its collaboration, voicing his optimism for continued partnerships with educational institutions across Africa in a bid to build a robust talent pipeline.
The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Y.E. Ogunwale, underscored the university’s commitment to enhancing students’ digital skills.
Ogunwale said that the partnership with Huawei marks a significant step forward in the university’s mission to ensure that students are equipped with practical knowledge and technical prowess relevant to today’s ICT-driven world.
“The collaboration with Huawei is invaluable in our quest to transform our students into industry-ready ICT professionals,” she stated.
The workshop attracted nearly 200 students, including many first-year participants, who engaged in hands-on sessions that showcased the real-world applications of ICT and encouraged innovative thinking.
Through this transformative experience, she said students were able to gain insights into the latest developments in ICT, empowering them to approach future career paths with a strong foundation in digital technology and a forward-looking mindset.
According to her, the event not only bolstered Huawei’s mission to support ICT education but also reinforced the University of Ilesa’s dedication to providing students with comprehensive, industry-relevant training. The success of the workshop has laid a strong foundation for future collaborations aimed at building ICT expertise and fostering innovation among Nigeria’s next generation of digital leaders.
