By Edwin Naidu
South Africa must be deliberate in combating youth unemployment and driving digital transformation to achieve an inclusive economy, according to Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane.
“As we navigate the 4th Industrial Revolution and work towards sustained economic growth, partnerships like the one between the Department of Higher Education and Huawei have never been more crucial,” she told the Huawei ICT Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg.
Welcoming delegates and students from higher education institutions in South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Madagascar, Nkabane praised Huawei for its unwavering commitment to supporting skills development in South Africa, a dedication that served as a beacon of inspiration for us all.
“Indeed, this is perfectly aligned with our Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) priorities of driving inclusive economic growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living, as well as well as building a capable, ethical and developmental state.”
The minister stated that since Huawei South Africa was founded in 1999, it has played a pivotal role in the country’s rapid development by supporting the growth of its ICT infrastructure. At the same time, Huawei had also implemented various talent training programmes in recent years.
Some of the more catalytic programmes Huawei has run in South Africa include 4IR training, SMME digital skills transformation training, Huawei ICT Academy and Huawei ICT competitions. These programmes have already benefited more than 24,000 South African people in the past three years.
Since September 2016, Huawei has established ICT academies in collaboration with various public universities, TVET colleges and private colleges, now numbering 76 institutions in the PSET sector. More than 26,000 students from the PSET system are participating in competitions after receiving training through the academy.
In August 2024, the department signed a Letter of Cooperation Agreement on TVET Curriculum Transformation with Huawei and Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology. This partnership aims to promote innovation in ICT-related courses at TVET institutions in South Africa, making them more relevant to the job market and thereby enhancing the employability of students from TVET Colleges.
Nkabane said Community Education and Training (CET) Colleges should be included in the programme in this regard.
She stated that in September 2024, she visited the Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to the People’s Republic of China. In November 2024, during a working visit to China, she was hosted by Huawei at its research centre in Beijing.
“I was impressed with Huawei’s technological advancement, which included, amongst others, the innovation in designing electric vehicles, which is an integral part of the skills and competencies that are required for the Just Energy Transition.
“We hope that in the future, we can also continue to have more far-reaching cooperation with Huawei in talent training, smart campus construction and other projects. Together, we will equip South Africa’s youth not just with formal qualifications but with skills that will enable them to make meaningful contributions to the development of our economy,” Nkabane said.
Recognising the importance of involving the African continent and, more specifically, the SADC region in such cooperation, Nkabane said that 2024 was declared by the AU Heads of State as the Year of Education in Africa, allowing the continent to reimagine Africa’s education and skills trajectory.
“I am delighted that Huawei has intentionally invested in the African continent, and I trust that these efforts will assist us in implementing our continental frameworks, including the attainment of the aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063,” she said.
This year, South Africa ascended to the G20 Presidency.
“We seek to utilise G20 to strengthen our partnership in the area of ICT and artificial intelligence; it is for this reason that South Africa has established a G20 Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance, and Innovation for Sustainable Development,” she said.
“In the G20 Education Working Group, which is co-chaired by the Department of Higher Education and Department of Basic Education, we have identified priorities such as the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications and Skills in the Global Context. “
The Minister said that ICT skills were crucial from the foundational phase of education right up to post-school education, adding that the working group would also focus on ensuring that educational professionals, such as lecturers and teachers, were not neglected but were equipped with the skills to enable them to teach students.
Yang Yongpeng, director of the Huawei Southern Africa Region Human Resource Department, said that the world was currently undergoing an unprecedented digital transformation.
“Digital technologies have not only changed the way we live but have also created new opportunities and challenges for education, the economy and society. In particular, the potential of the African digital economy is enormous. The African Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2030, released by the African Union, clearly states that by 2030, Africa will achieve comprehensive digital transformation, and the digital economy will become the core driving force for Africa’s economic growth.”
However, Yongpengnoted that the existence of the digital divide remained a significant challenge for Africa and the world.
“Our shared responsibility is to let more people enjoy the dividends of this digital technology. As a world-leading provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei is committed to promoting digital inclusion through technological innovation and telecom collaboration. By doing so, we aim to ensure that more people benefit from the growth of the digital economy. “
In terms of ICT competition, he stated that Huawei has collaborated with universities worldwide to establish the Huawei ICT ecosystem since 2013. By the end of 2024, Huawei had partnered with more than 3,000 universities worldwide to establish Huawei ICT academies, covering over 110 countries and cultivating over 1.1 million students.
Up to now, Huawei has established 500 ICT academies in the South Sahara African region, with more than 35,000 students.
For instance, in 2024, students received nearly 500 Huawei career certifications, and 550 academy students secured jobs at Huawei and its partners.
“These figures not only demonstrate Huawei’s strong commitment to cultivating digital talent in Africa but also lay a solid foundation for Africa’s digital future. Huawei’s ICT competition is an important initiative of the Huawei ICT Academy.”
The competition has set a broad stage for African youths to demonstrate themselves and pursue their dreams. Many young Africans have achieved outstanding success in the global finals of previous competitions and have successfully joined Huawei.
Juvenna Hamutu-Salumu, a young Tanzanian woman and winner of the 2023 ICT competition, joined Huawei as an exceptional female engineer. Aleel Issa, a Nigerian who won first prize in the global ICT competition final, has earned more than 20 Huawei certificates. He joined Huawei and became the product solution manager of the Nigeria Lloyd office.
“Through the competition, we have seen the potential of young African teachers and students for digital technology. It is the infinite possibilities of Africa’s digital future. In Africa, a land of hope, digital inclusion carries a special and far-reaching significance,” said Yongpeng.
“We will continue to live up to our commitment to Africa and build closer partnerships with African governments, institutions of higher learning, and enterprises. We will collaborate to promote digital talent development programs that support Africa’s digital transformation. Students, you are the hope of Africa’s digital future,” he added.
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