Huawei is planning to invest $150 million in digital talent development over the next five years, noting that the programme will be beneficial to about 3 million youths.

“We are announcing Huawei’s Seeds for the Future Program 2.0. As part of our commitment to continuously develop talent, we will invest $150 million in this program over the next five years and help college students and young people improve their digital skills. This program is expected to benefit another 3 million people,” said Huawei’s Chairman Liang Hua.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, stated that “Nigeria is positioning to be the continent’s leader in digitalisation. Burkina Faso already has a ministry of digital economy but we have so many advantages.” The advantages, according to him, include the country’s population and location, the contribution of the ICT to Gross Domestic Product, and the level of the ICT literacy among Nigerians.

He added that the government would henceforth be proactive in the ICT through effective application of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Robotics, and Virtual Reality.

He noted that in a few years, Nigerians might no longer need to travel to India or other foreign countries for medical treatment, as surgeries could be performed on patients anywhere in the world by means of 5G technology.

He urged the 10 Nigerian students selected from different institutions for the Huawei internship programme to see themselves as future entrepreneurs in order to make the best of the opportunity.

“The ICT has the potential of employing and lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty,” the minister added.

He commended Huawei for investing in the youth as part of its corporate social responsibility engagements.

The Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, Mr. Trevor Liu stated that Nigeria has the largest population in Africa.

“These youths are the continent’s greatest resource which will power the economy in the future.

“Huawei partners with the Nigerian governments, education institutes and industry to equip the future leaders with the latest knowledge at the highest global levels and provide them opportunities to apply the knowledge in order to achieve a better future for the continent,” he said.