NAIROBI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A bootcamp for 21 Kenyan youths selected to participate in the 2025-2026 Huawei-sponsored information and communication technology (ICT) competition kicked off Tuesday in Nairobi.
The participants, chosen from nearly 3,000 applicants from universities and vocational training institutions nationwide, will undergo training, mentorship and peer learning aimed at enhancing their digital skills.
Michael Kamau, Huawei ICT Academy program manager, said the bootcamp seeks to equip contestants with advanced, practical digital skills to prepare them for the company's flagship ICT competition and ensure they are globally competitive.
He said the competition aims to strengthen industry-academia linkages, with participants expected to compete in regional and global finals to be held later this year in South Africa and China, respectively.
"Reaching the global final in China places students among the best ICT talent worldwide and opens doors to global exposure, innovation and collaboration," Kamau said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
The 2025-2026 competition features four main tracks, namely network, cloud and artificial intelligence, computing, and innovation.
Female students account for one-third of the contestants, underscoring Huawei's commitment to promoting inclusive digital skills development in Kenya.
Mathew Kiptoo, hiring manager at Huawei Technologies Kenya, said the bootcamp will expose participants to job opportunities in the private sector available to digitally skilled youth.
Participants are also eligible to apply for the Huawei Graduate Program Training scheduled for July, which aims to further refine their technical skills and encourage innovation, he added.
According to Huawei, the bootcamp will also expose participants to global ICT standards and certification, while offering career guidance, recruitment opportunities and pathways for career advancement. ■