Nigerian Teams Win Big at Huawei ICT Competition

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

Four teams from Nigeria have secured two grand prizes, and two first prizes at the Huawei ICT Competition 2023-2024 Global final held in Shenzhen, China on May 26, 2024.
 
At the fierce competition designed to help students enhance their ICT knowledge and practical skills, the Nigeria teams emerged part of 19 teams from nine countries who won the Grand Prizes of the Practice and Innovation Competitions.
 
This 8th edition of the Huawei ICT Competition themed “Connection, Glory and Future”, attracted more than 170,000 students from over 2,000 universities and colleges across more than 80 countries and regions, making it the largest offline competition since its launch. More than 160 teams consisting of over 470 contestants from 49 different countries and regions made it through national and regional competitions to reach this year’s global final.
 
The Nigeria team comprising of four students from the University of Ibadan namely Rufus Olusoji Adisa, Tolani Adekunle Adisa, Chibueze Emmanuel Ibekwe, and Lawrence Chukwuemeka, won the grand prize in Computing Track category.
 
In the Cloud Track category, another Nigeria team also from the University of Ibadan won the grand prize. The students include – Lukman Oyeniyi Abdulyekeen, Sodiq Babawale, and Temiloluwa Oloye.
 
Two teams from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, also won first prizes in the Network Track category. Students in Team 1 included Knimi Bakna Musa, Kaosar Salaudeen Ahmad, Taiye Ayantola, Oluwagbemiga Victor Ogundele and team 2 consisted of Justus Ilegieuno, Yusuf Olanrewaju Toye, and Jamiu Damilare Dahunsi.
 
The Nigerian stars beat thousands of competitors at the national level competition testing a range of practical and theoretical digital skills, and represented Nigeria at the regional level contest where they qualified for the finals in China.
 Speaking at the event, Ritchie Peng, President of Huawei’s ICT Strategy and Business Development Department, said, “ICT is the cornerstone of the intelligent world. Through the Huawei ICT Competition, we aim to provide students with a global platform to compete and exchange ideas.”
 
Furthermore, Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, disclosed that, “To make sure everyone can truly enjoy the benefits of digitalization while such technologies are making radical progress, Huawei believes it is crucial to guarantee that digital technologies are accessible to all.”
 
On the same day, Huawei also held the ICT Accelerating Education Transformation Summit. At the summit, Huawei awarded 24 instructors with the title “Huawei ICT Academy Global Most Valuable Instructor”, which is the first of its kind.
 
The award aims to show gratitude for the important contributions these instructors have made to talent development, and mark them as role models that show how the brightest minds can develop even brighter minds. These role models will help drive sustainable development of the ICT talent ecosystem.
 
The Huawei ICT Competition is an annual contest held by Huawei for global university and college students. Through the competition, Huawei aims to provide students with an international platform for healthy competition and the exchange of ideas.
 
Since its launch in 2015, the competition has helped students enhance their ICT knowledge and practical skills, while also increasing their ability to innovate by using new technologies and platforms. The ultimate goal is to advance technological development and facilitate digital inclusion around the world.

Nigerian Teams Win Big at Huawei ICT Competition