In a groundbreaking move to drive technological advancement, Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation in partnership with Huawei Technologies (Rwanda) Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create skills and employment opportunities for Rwandan youths in the ICT sector.
The MoU outlines a shared commitment to capacity-building, innovation, and knowledge exchange. This strategic partnership aligns with the aspirations of the Rwandan government of being the leading technology and innovation hub in Africa.
On Friday, December 20, Yves Iradukunda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, alongside Jin Jinqing, the Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Rwanda LTD, formally finalised the signing of the MOU that promises to provide digital talent and skills development to Rwandan youths and digitalisation through emerging technology initiatives in agriculture, healthcare, education, and public services.
Speaking at the ceremony, Iradukunda stated that the Rwandan government is determined to create infrastructure and tech-flexible environments for more companies like Huawei Technologies to set up and operate optimally in the country while providing opportunities to youths.
"With a number of excellent universities focusing on technology, we hope that this becomes an immediate pipeline of talent,” he noted. The government through the ministry aims to make Kigali a regional hub for proof-of-concept projects, enabling talent to practice and innovate solutions for Africa’s challenges.
Jinqing affirmed, "Over the coming years, we aim to nurture thousands of Rwandan ICT talents. This includes expanding our cooperation with local partners, introducing new ICT training programmes, and the existing internship programme and talent recruitment efforts.”
He further stated that such initiatives will create a skilled workforce equipped to navigate the demands of the global economy and bridge the digital divide gap.
Jinqing emphasised, "This approach would ensure that Rwandan youth would be competitive in international job markets and their employability would be greatly improved.” In his closing remarks, Jinqing also reaffirmed their eagerness to work with the government of Rwanda and promised a possible long-term working relationship.
He expressed his sincere appreciation to the Rwandan government for its tremendous progress in connectivity, skills development, and digital adoption.
"I believe the signing of this MOU is not only a formal agreement, but it will be a shared commitment for us to leverage the power of technology to shape the bright future of Rwanda.”
Huawei Technologies pledged to skill and empower Rwandan ICT professionals by delivering world-class ICT training through the Huawei ICT Academy, the Huawei ICT competitions, and the Leadership Employability Advancement and Possibility (LEAP) Digital Talent programme.
These Huawei global initiatives aim to encourage young talent to excel in Information and Communications Technology through industry-level exposure, training, and competitions fostering digital transformation in all their host countries. Huawei also plans to tap into the talent pool of university students and graduates for projects to develop solutions in artificial intelligence, smart cities, and clean energy.