NAIROBI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- An award ceremony for national and regional winners of the 2025-2026 Huawei ICT Competition was held on Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, bringing together senior government officials, industry executives, students, lecturers, and innovators.

The event was held on the sidelines of the 2026 Connected Africa Summit underway in Nairobi, with winners who will proceed to the global finals in China in June receiving prizes and gifts.

William Kabogo Gitau, cabinet secretary for information, communications, and the digital economy, noted that the Huawei-sponsored ICT contest has been pivotal in promoting digital literacy among local youth.

He hailed Chinese companies, including Huawei, for partnering with the government to boost connectivity, positioning the country as a hub for a digital economy that fosters inclusivity.

A total of 21 university students were honored for their outstanding performance in the Huawei ICT Competition, while nine will proceed to China's Shenzhen for the global finals.

James Sun, deputy chief executive officer for Kenya Business Environment at Huawei Kenya, said the competition has been pivotal in shaping a digital future for local youth through training, mentorship, and industry placement.

Sun noted that through the competition, Kenyan youth have gained digital skills that align with industry needs, boosting employment creation and sustainable livelihoods.

Michael Kamau, public affairs manager for Huawei Kenya, said the competition attracted 25,000 applicants from 25 sub-Saharan African countries, who competed at the national and regional levels, with winners qualifying to participate in the global finals in China.

"The finalists will compete in the network, computing, and cloud tracks of the Huawei ICT Competition," said Kamau, adding that the global finals will attract 400 students from 85 countries and regions.

He noted that the competition has gained traction globally, with this year attracting over 200,000 applicants, while in Kenya, more students from technical and vocational training institutions have enrolled in the contest.

Melane Minayo, a computer science major at a public university who won in the computing track, said the competition was stiff but rewarding in terms of skills and exposure gained.

Minayo said she looks forward to a career with leading technology companies while motivating young girls to take up science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. ■