Huawei Technologies Company Limited has injected K5 million in ICT Academy, a training program aimed at equipping Zambians with Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills.

The long term program has been launched in Lusaka with a Huawei ICT competition for universities and colleges in Southern Africa.

So far, over 1, 000 Students from over 9 tertiary Institutions have registered for the competition.
Company Vice President for the Enterprise Business Group in Southern Africa, Michael Meng says he is hopeful that my more than 30 Institutions will register for the program next year.

Mr. Meng says over 20 thousand students are expected to be trained through the program in the next five years.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the program launch by Transport and communications Permanent Secretary Engineer Misheck Lungu on behalf of the Minister, Brian Mushimba.

And Government has called on the Zambia information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) to ensure that the Universal Access Fund is used to develop research in the ICT sector.

Ministry of Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Engineer Misheck Lungu at the Zambia ICT Talents Development Summit and Huawei ICT Competition Launch Ceremony in Lusaka today.

Engineer Lungu has noted that youths spending time on social media insulting the Government is unacceptable behavior.

He has advised that young people should spend their time creating innovative ideas that can create jobs for others in the country.

He has since promised the Zambians participating in the competition that those that emerge the best may have a job secured for them.

And Smart Zambia Coordinator Dr. Martine Mtonga says Zambia and Huawei will work together towards enhancing student capabilities and obtain more job opportunities and creating a platform for students and teachers to share knowledge among other things.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie has disclosed that there are currently over 4000 Zambian students studying in China adding that his country will sponsor 920 people to train in China.

He also says that over 10 thousand Zambian students have learnt to speak the Chinese Language so far.

Speaking earlier, ICT Association of Zambia President Alick Siankumo has noted that the signing of the association into an act will enhance the progressive framework for the ICT industry in Zambia.

The Association has also signed an agreement with Huawei technologies.

Huawei Group country Director Martin Zhong has noted the need for ICT enterprises to adapt to new Computing systems.