UKZN alumni Mr Lutho Sigidi and Ms Nqubeko Shabalala are members of the South African team which won the annual Huawei Global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) competition held in Shenzhen, China.
The team competed against thousands of students from sub-Saharan Africa and all over the world and made it to the grand final where they were one of 146 teams representing 36 countries and regions competing in the major prize categories.
The Huawei ICT competition – one of the world’s largest ICT events – is dedicated to fostering the growth of ICT talent for industry advancement and digital transformation.
Sigidi, Shabalala and University of Johannesburg graduate Ms Terry-Anne Fredericks, who was also a member of the winning team, are now all employed by Huawei.
President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the team and Huawei when he visited the Huawei Campus.
Said Shabalala, who is now working as a pre-sales engineer and product manager at Huawei: ‘When I started the competition, I did not imagine – even in my wildest dreams – meeting the President of South Africa. Being part of such an important launch is also a great step into showcasing the vast ICT technology offerings in a more practical, scenario-based environment. This kind of exposure through places like the Innovation Centre is exactly what’s needed here in South Africa.’
Sigidi – team leader and an Internet Protocol engineer with Huawei – said: ‘I feel honoured as a representative of South Africa’s youth to display our endless capabilities. I am certain that I represent many young people from around the country and I hope I have motivated and encouraged others.’
Vice-President of Huawei Southern Africa Mr Yang Chen said, ‘I’m incredibly pleased by the strong showing of teams from sub-Saharan Africa at this year’s Global ICT competition. At Huawei, we’ve long been committed not only to providing leading and innovative connectivity solutions in the region but also to nurturing its ICT talent and potential. The exceptional results achieved by the sub Saharan Africa teams at the global final show how justified that commitment has been.’
Registration for this year’s Huawei ICT Competition is now open.
* Huawei has provided numerous bursaries to deserving UKZN students, facilitated through the UKZN Foundation.
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Photographs: Supplied