Huawei’s commitment to fostering digital talent in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to soar as the company plans to train an additional 150,000 young people through its LEAP digital skills development programme over the next three years, according to Gao Xiang, President of Huawei’s Sub-Saharan Africa division.
LEAP, which stands for leadership, employability, advancement, and possibility, was launched in April 2022 to equip students from across the region with essential digital skills aimed at fostering innovation and technological solutions within their communities.
“The LEAP Framework targets pivotal areas including digital leadership, employability enhancement, skill advancement, and future opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa,” noted Xiang.
Initially aiming to enhance the ICT capabilities of more than 100,000 individuals within three years, Huawei has already surpassed expectations by training over 120,000 digital talents in the region well ahead of schedule.
Xiang highlighted the collaborative efforts of government bodies, academia, and industry stakeholders in achieving this milestone.
“This progress in talent development across African nations underscores the transformative impact of ICT skills on the continent’s youth, empowering them to shape a promising digital future,” he stated.
Among those benefitting from the programme is Londiwe Nkambule, a 29-year-old South African who transitioned from horticulture to IT engineering through training supported jointly by Huawei and Southern Labs, an institution founded by former MTN Group chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, in 2019 to offer practical workplace skills.
“Digital technology represents a significant opportunity for Africa, especially given its burgeoning youth population,” Xiang emphasised.
With Africa projected to have over 40% of the global youth population by 2030 and an estimated 830 million youths by 2050, Xiang stressed the pivotal role of ICT in driving Africa’s economic growth.
“Doubling down on digital talent development is crucial to unlocking Africa’s vast potential,” Xiang asserted.
He urged industry leaders, stakeholders, and governments to collaborate closely in advancing digital skills across Sub-Saharan Africa, thereby propelling its youth towards a digitally intelligent future.
John Omo, Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), emphasised at the Summit that the ATU is dedicated to collaborating with governments and the private sector throughout Africa.
“I invite everyone to unite with us, with Huawei, and with all stakeholders in this ecosystem to empower our youth with hope and a future, and importantly, to provide them with opportunities in the present,” Omo concluded.
Globally, Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program has empowered over 2.2 million individuals in digital skills across 150 countries. Additionally, the company’s ICT Academy has the capacity to train approximately 200,000 students annually.
In 2021, Huawei disclosed investments totaling $150 million towards global digital talent development, with plans to allocate an additional $150 million by 2026. However, specific earmarks for Africa were not disclosed at that time.
Jeff Wang. President of Huawei’s Public Affairs and Communications Department, said digital technology is reshaping the world.
“”As a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei has always regarded ICT talent cultivation as an important part of its vision, and believes that an inclusive, systematic, and future-oriented approach should be adopted in this regard.”
