An inspiring convergence of innovation, skills development, and international collaboration has been ongoing at the Technical University of Kenya over the past month.
It brought together 142 teams comprising students and trainers from across 12 African countries who gathered for a four-week intensive, hands-on training programme aimed at equipping the next generation with advanced technical skills in CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining, problem-solving, and creative innovation.
Representatives from several African nations, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, and Ghana, took part in this transformative learning experience.
Unlike conventional academic setups, the training emphasised applied knowledge and real-world application—focusing on holistic student development with an emphasis on solving not only local but also global challenges.
The graduation ceremony was officiated by John Tuwei, Director, TVET-Project and Partnership, State Department for Technical Vocational Education, Ministry of Education.
They noted that the graduands mark the beginning of their journey as innovators, entrepreneurs and global leaders, reminding them that the certificates awarded represent resilience, discipline and readiness to transform communities and nations.
Prof. Benedict Mutua, Vice Chancellor, Technical University of Kenya, emphasised the uniqueness of their approach.
“The training we offer is what we call hands-on. It’s grounded in creativity, innovation, and practical application. Our goal is to produce holistic students—individuals who are not only educated but are also equipped to solve the pressing problems of their countries, the continent, and the world at large,” he said.
The African Tech Challenge (ATC), the platform under which the training was conducted, drew praise from participants who saw the programme as a gateway to personal and professional transformation.
Du Juan, vice president of AVIC INNO Project Engineering company, in her remarks noted, ‘For the past decade, the Africa Technical College (ATC) has been deeply committed to vocational training in Africa, not as a commercial venture, but as a heartfelt gesture of partnership and empowerment.’
Rooted in the values of social responsibility and collaboration, ATC, in cooperation with Chinese institutions and the African governments, has offered hands-on technical training to equip young people with life-changing skills.
While some may view competitions as a form of rivalry, ATC sees them as a means to validate learning and inspire excellence.
Their efforts go beyond classroom instruction—they provide exposure to local enterprises, foster global connections, and even offer top-performing students full scholarships to study in China for over three years.
In an era where universities are often criticised for producing graduates lacking practical abilities, ATC stands out for nurturing capable, knowledgeable youth ready to transform their lives—and, potentially, the future of Africa.
Ronaldi Francisco, a participant from Tanzania, reflected on the challenging yet rewarding experience.
“We learnt how to operate CNC machines and how to program them based on specific diagrams,” he shared. “At first, it was difficult because we weren’t familiar with the machines or the software.
For Francisco and many others, the programme was not just about technical learning but about growth and resilience. “We had to go into the lab and show what we had learnt in reality. That was powerful,” he said.
Meghan Dhao, a bright-eyed student from Senegal, echoed similar sentiments, calling the programme “life-changing”.
The students’ president of the Technical University of Kenya, Odhiambo Moses Okal, made a clarion call to the government to fund technical institutions, noting that most TVETs are underfunded, therefore sabotaging technical courses.
As the training programme concludes, the spirit of learning and collaboration it fostered will live on through the participants.
These young Africans will return to their home countries not only as trained technicians but also as ambassadors of innovation, carrying with them the vision of a better, technologically empowered continent.
