The photo shows the Huawei ICT Competition 2019-2020 award ceremony held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Dec. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Charles Onyango)

Ten winners of the Huawei Kenya ICT competition 2019-2020 will represent the country in the regional finals in South Africa in February 2020.

Maluki Muthusi of the University of Nairobi and Ngetich Kimaiyo of Kabarak University emerged as overall winners out of over 6,000 students from 60 universities and were awarded trophies at a ceremony held here Monday.

Daniel Yang, deputy CEO Huawei Kenya said that in 2018, the Kenyan team reached the global finals in China and even though they did not win, they made it to the top 10.

"I am sure that this year the Kenyan team will also do well in the regional finals and take part in the global final," Yang said.

The competition's theme for the current edition is "Connection, Glory, and Future" as the competition connects students from around the country and around the world to each other and to new knowledge.

Jayakumar Ramasamy, head of Natural Science Sector, UNESCO Eastern Africa, makes his remarks during the Huawei ICT Competition 2019-2020 award ceremony held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Dec. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Charles Onyango)

The competition helps students gain the skills and knowledge to be better prepared for their future.

Jerome Ochieng, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of ICT hailed Huawei on the ICT competition initiative which he said plays an integral role in equipping the youth with the much-needed skills on emerging technology.

"This enhances the student's employability and capacity to embark on various ventures within the ICT space," Ochieng said.

The government official said that the ICT sector is Kenya's most promising source of quality youth employment.

Zhao Xiyuan, minister-counselor of the Chinese embassy in Kenya said that as part of China's economic reform and development agenda, ICT was identified as a key pillar.  

Jerome Ochieng (R), Principal Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), present an a ward to Maluki Muthusi (L), the winner in Network Category, during the Huawei ICT Competition 2019-2020 award ceremony held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Dec. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Charles Onyango)

"We have invested not only in the ICT hardware, but also in the software: in the skills for our academics and for our students, and we can now see the benefits as we are developing some of the most successful ICT companies in the world, with Huawei (being) one example of many," Zhao revealed.

He noted that China has also been supportive of the economic transformation in Kenya and Africa at large which has greatly enhanced Africa-China relations.

"This transformation is greatly evident in the infrastructure, agriculture, ICT and manufacturing sectors. Africa is not being left behind in the fourth industrial revolution and is catching up with the technological advancements and innovation which are significantly expected to shape its future," said Zhao.