By Our Reporter
The 2022 edition of the Huawei Uganda Seeds for the Future Program has been launched. It was launched on Friday at a ceremony presided over by the Minister for Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda commended Huawei for skilling Ugandans through their various ICT programs.
“In a special way, I would like to commend Huawei for living what they preach as one of the top ICT companies. That even with COVID-19, their business and program has continued online, such are fruits of ICT. I continue to thank the job well done by Ministry of ICT, Ministry of Education and universities for coordinating and seeing to it that our students benefit from such wonderful opportunities,” the Minister said.
Hon. Babalanda further explained that government has significantly increased its spending in the area of Education in the last two years and they hope the investment shall improve enrollment and quality of learning in Ugandan schools, raise the human capital necessary to sustain productivity and economic growth.
“Education and ICT Skilling play a fundamental and pioneering role with wide-ranging and long-lasting effects. We all know that with the fast development of information technology, ways of learning, productivity and living are undergoing profound changes. ICT is exerting ever-growing revolutionary influence on education, and also enriching the channels, ways and contents of people-to-people exchanges. Therefore, Huawei’s initiatives of the seeds for the future is not only a skilling initiative, but also a very meaningful and important people-to-people exchange activity.” She noted.
At the same event, Joy Tiko, a Makerere University graduand who took part in the previous Seeds for the Future competition, lauded Huawei for giving her experience and necessary skills that have helped her move places in the world of ICT.
“My team created a working prototype of a system that uses artificial intelligence to combat disease and pests, and out of the 19 teams that competed, We were chosen as the winner of the 2021 Huawei Seeds for the Future competition,” said Ms. Tiko who is waiting to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Business Computing.
“With Huawei Seeds for the Future Competition, I improved my skills in the area of artificial intelligence, and I’m now working on new projects that use this technology. My team and I have competed in various IT contests using the experience and skills we got from Huawei Seeds. We thank Huawei for the enormous opportunity it gave us to put our skills on a wider platform and I believe you too will learn from the experience,”she added.
The Seeds for the Future program which is now in its 7th edition is aimed at boosting capacity in the ICT Industry by training students in new emerging technologies and skills. Some of the participating universities include; Gulu University, Kabale University, Kampala International University, Kyambogo University, Makerere Univeristy, and Muni University.