Huawei, Government Launch HH Innovation Fund
In image: Far left:Acting Minister of Education Elijah Muchima
Mid:Ps Tech and Science Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu
Third from left:Huawei Vice President for Southern Africa Phil Li presents a dummy Cheque to the Minister and PS while Dr. CHITUNDU Kasase (far right) NTBC Director looks on
Chinese Technology Giant, Huawei and the Government have launched an ICT innovation fund dubbed HH Innovation Fund. Speaking during the launch ceremony held in Lusaka on 4th November 2022, Huawei Vice President for Southern Africa Region, Phil Li said the global society demands that Zambia begins to build eco-systems that are response to current ICT demands. Mr.Li explained that it was for that reason that Huawei continues to identify opportunities for partnerships in Zambia in the area of digital innovation.
The HH Innovation Fund is part of the four (4) year partnership and initiative by Huawei that is aimed at developing Innovation Leaders who will support Zambia’s Digital Transformation Agenda.
“By the year 2025, Huawei has committed to provide ICT Training to at least 5000 Zambians, as a way to complement efforts of Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Technology and Science to provide relevant ICT education to all Zambians at all levels of society, in order to facilitate socio-economic development” Huawei Vice President said.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Technology and Science, Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, read a speech on behalf of Hon. Felix Mutati, stating that “Under this partnership, Huawei Technologies is setting up a digital/ICT innovation hub at National Technology Business Centre (NTBC) to be housed at the New Government Complex. The partnership further entails the establishment of a Huawei Hakainde Hichilema innovation fund which we are jointly launch today. The Hakainde Hichilema Innovation Fund will be implemented by the NTBC through a dedicated technical working group. The programme seeks to promote digital innovations and provision of digitals skills among young people in Zambia. The fund is targeted at undergraduate students from public and private universities, colleges and training institutes enrolled in ICT related programmes/courses and science technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) courses across the country. Under this programme, 50 deserving and talented students in ICT related programmes with high valued innovations will benefit from the fund, each year in the next 4 years.”
And speaking at the same event, Acting Minister of Education Elijah Muchimba said today’s world requires that every learner has access to quality education, including digital skills. He said the Government has partnered with Huawei to promote digital skills among learners to ensure that young people in Zambia are well prepared to face the fast changing digital world.
The Minister explained that Zambia has made significant progress towards digital transformation over the past few years as evidenced in digital infrastructure, digital financial systems and digital platforms. He however said the Government was still aware of some gaps that still exist and that the innovation fund which has been launched has come at a right time and will go a long way in terms of addressing many challenges especially where talent development is concerned.
The two partners also took time to unveil the visual designs of the forth-coming National Digital Innovation Hub that will seat at the New Government Complex under the auspices of National Technology Business Centre (NTBC). An innovation hub is a workspace for young people that have ideas to incubate and actualize into practical solutions.
Source: Huawei (Zambia)
