Today Huawei Kenya held the Graduation Ceremony of the 7th Edition of the Seeds for the future program. For the first time in its history Huawei’s Flagship program was held virtually providing a 5 day intensive training with more than 20 mandatory and elective courses offering 60 participants from around the country training in technology fields, including 5G, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing to empower students to understand the latest technology trends to equip them in today’s job market. Prizes were awarded to the Best Team, Best Essay, and Creativity. Alexander Mutua from Kisii University and Jacqline Kamau from JKUAT walked away with internship offers.
At the event Amb. Simon Nabukwesi, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Education and Mr. Waweru Kimani, Deputy Head of Mission at the Kenyan Embassy in China, representing Ambassador Sarah Serem, gave keynote speeches to the students and commended Huawei for the highly relevant content, contribution to developing ICT talent and supporting the development of Kenya’s Digital Economy.
The students were able to experience Huawei products and services, through virtual tours,
presentations and exchanges with Huawei employees, and learn about the latest trends and technological development. Students also had the opportunity to take part in tailored virtual visits of iconic places in China and learn about Chinese culture and traditions.
Representing the Kenya Ambassador to China Sarah Serem, Mr. Waweru Kimani, Deputy Head of the Mission, remarked, “I want to thank Huawei for this innovation in corporate social responsibility which started way back in 2008. The Seeds for the Future is an innovative way of building bridges and enhancing communication between countries and culture, both sharing ICT expertise and skills in international business environment.”
Mabel Karani, a student at JKUAT University in telecommunication and information engineering shared her experiences of the program: “One of the best experiences was working with a team. We were more than just a team, we became a family. We learnt about cutting edge technologies like 5G which is the next generation of mobile networks, Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing and HMS Core. The best part of this program was that it was not only about technology as we also learnt life skills such as strategic leadership and teamwork. Thank you Huawei and ICT Authority for this amazing opportunity.”
Another student, Collins Kimutai, echoed Mabel’s thoughts of the programs noting that: “We have gained immeasurable knowledge and a valuable wealth of experience. I have no doubt we are learning from the very best and it has left an unforgettable mark in our lives. Through us you have planted a tree and we shall water it and nurture it until it bears fruits. I thank the Kenyan government for providing an enabling environment for ICT growth and enabling us to access such programs.”
The 60 students participated in 4 different teams to build their teamwork skills, with the “Green Geeks” winning the Best Team prize. They also had to complete multiple tests during the course and had an essay competition. The Top 2 in that essay competition were offered internships, meanwhile other prize winners will get vouchers for Huawei ICT Academy trainings and certifications as well as Huawei consumer products.
All 60 participants graduated the program and were awarded Certification.
