Huawei has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the digital divide and equipping young people across Africa and the Global South with advanced technical skills to meet the demands of the modern economy.
Speaking at the World Bank Skills for Jobs Policy Academy panel on “Moving up the Value Chain – Higher-level Technical Skills in ICT, Energy, and Manufacturing Sectors,” Huawei ICT Academy Program Manager Michael Kamau represented Huawei Kenya and highlighted the company’s role in building sustainable digital talent pipelines.
The session brought together experts from UNESCO, the World Bank, and TVET institutions from across Africa to discuss the urgent need to strengthen mid- and high-level technical capacity in ICT, energy, and manufacturing—sectors that are central to Africa’s economic transformation.
Kamau noted that the shortage of digital skills has become a global issue, affecting even countries with strong education systems like China and India. He cautioned that traditional education models are struggling to keep pace with the growing demand for specialized expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and advanced digital technologies.
“Digital skills shortages are no longer a local issue; they are a global challenge. Traditional education cannot keep up with the pace of technological change. This gap slows innovation, limits business growth, and poses risks to competitiveness,” Kamau said.
“The solution lies in scalable, industry-aligned training that targets regional and role-specific deficits—ensuring Africa’s workforce is ready for the intelligent world.”
Through initiatives such as the Huawei ICT Academy, the company says it will continue to work with governments, educators, and industry leaders to deliver practical, industry-driven training programmes that prepare young people for employment in emerging sectors.
Kamau added that Huawei’s goal is not only to help close the digital skills gap but also to empower Africa’s youth to participate meaningfully in the continent’s digital and industrial transformation.
Huawei’s ICT Talent Development Strategy has already benefited thousands of students across Africa through programmes such as Seeds for the Future, ICT Competition, and Cybersecurity Training, which provide hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.
By investing in digital education and public-private partnerships, Huawei aims to ensure that developing countries in Africa and the wider Global South are not left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
