Safaricom in patnership with Huawei Kenya celebrate future tech leaders at AI training challenge graduation
In a bid to promote diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, Huawei Kenya Women in Technology team, in partnership with the Safaricom Women in Technology team, hosted a graduation ceremony for 70 young individuals who successfully completed the AI Training Challenge. The two-month intensive program, which ran from July to September 2024, targeted university students pursuing STEM-related courses, with a particular focus on women. The program was conducted under the Huawei ICT Academy pillar.
The initiative aimed to equip participants with advanced AI and machine learning skills, along with soft skills to enhance their professional readiness. The AI Training Challenge is part of an ongoing effort to empower young people, particularly women, to take up technical roles in the industry.
“Being a part of this incredible program has been my highlight this year, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity,” said Hope Mutanu, one of the program graduates. “The Safaricom and Huawei teams made the entire study program smooth and accessible, which is rare in the industry. I look forward to using the knowledge and soft skills I’ve gained to impact more people.”
This initiative aligns with the broader goal of fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in the technology sector. The program has significantly contributed to increasing the number of women pursuing STEM courses and taking on technical roles across various professional levels.
The success of the AI Training Challenge underscores the power of partnership. The long-standing collaboration between Huawei and Safaricom’s Women in Technology teams has been instrumental in creating learning opportunities and mentorship programs that build capacity among young leaders.
During the ceremony, Donna Rege highlighted the importance of such initiatives, stating, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. Today we celebrate the significant platform that Safaricom and Huawei Women In Technology have co-created to fuel your passion and initiative. We hope you seize this rare chance to become tomorrow’s technologists, entrepreneurs, and innovators.”
Huawei has consistently demonstrated its commitment to developing local ICT talent in Kenya. Through its ICT Academy, the company offers industry-level certification programs that enhance knowledge transfer and promote greater interest in the ICT sector, a key driver of economic growth in the country.
Eng. Maureen Mwaniki, Director of Women in Technology at Huawei Kenya, remarked, “Capacity building in AI is about empowering individuals and communities to understand AI’s potential and use it to drive social and economic change. Today, we celebrate a great milestone as 70 young women and men graduate from our AI and Machine Learning program. This marks the second cohort since the program began last year, reflecting the growing interest in emerging technologies among the youth.”
As the world moves toward a more tech-driven future, programs like the AI Training Challenge are critical in preparing the next generation of innovators. The partnership between Huawei and Safaricom aims to ensure that young Kenyans, particularly women, are not only equipped with technical skills but are also positioned as leaders in the technology space.
With these efforts, Huawei and Safaricom are contributing to Kenya’s ambition to become a hub for technological innovation in Africa, while also addressing the gender gap inthe ICT industry.
