On June 28, Huawei revealed plans to train an additional 150,000 talents in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years, building on its previous goal of equipping 100,000 individuals with digital skills by 2025. This announcement was made at the LEAP Summit 2024: ICT Talent and Sustainable Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, hosted in Shanghai.
Huawei’s Commitment to Digital Skills Development
Huawei's LEAP (Leadership, Employability, Advancement, and Possibility) program, launched in 2022, has already trained over 120,000 individuals, surpassing its initial target by 120%. The program aims to foster digital leadership and build a robust ICT workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa. The LEAP Summit, co-hosted by Huawei and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), gathered over 200 guests, including high-ranking ministers, ambassadors, and government officials from numerous African nations.
Industry Collaboration and Strategic Initiatives
Keynote speakers at the summit included Jeff Wang, Senior Vice President of Huawei, who emphasized inclusive, systematic, and future-oriented talent development. John OMO, Secretary General of ATU, highlighted the importance of digital skills for economic participation. The event also featured a new Huawei Digital Intelligence Talent Development Program, offering free courses and certifications through the Huawei ICT Academy.
Future Prospects and Global Cooperation
Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, underscored the need for a multilateral approach to addressing the digital skills gap. The summit also saw the launch of the Digital Badge program, allowing students and teachers to showcase their certifications on social media, enhancing employment opportunities.
Huawei's TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Initiative, a key pillar of the company’s sustainable development strategy, was also highlighted. Joyce Liu, Director of the TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Office, spoke on the long-term benefits of education for a more inclusive and sustainable future.