Education
Nigerian students emerge first in Huawei Global ICT competition 2022
Nigerian university students emerged winners in the Network and Cloud Category of Huawei’s Global ICT competition held in June 2022.
This year’s theme is “Connection, Glory and Future,” and it marked the 6th ICT competition in Nigeria.
University of Port-Harcourt students, Udochi Daniella, Ushuta Anthony and Adebayo Samuel Olufemi won the Network Category, while, Ahmadu Bello University students, Micha B. Shalom, Yunus Abdullahi and Aliyu Isah won the Cloud Category. Ahmadu Bello University won third place in the Innovation Category.
Over 150,000 students from over 2000 universities and colleges in 85 countries and regions participated in the competition. After battling in their respective country-level and regional competition, 130 teams from 43 countries and regions made it to the Global finals.
Miss Udoci Daniella, a 400 level student from the University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, whose group won the Network Category said that the Huawei ICT competition was a worthwhile experience that took a lot of sacrifices and commitment.
She stated that, “Huawei Nigeria provided adequate resources and always cheered us on at every point, that is why we were able to achieve such excellent results.”
Narrating her winning experience, she said “I screamed so loud, it has to be the best thing that has happened to me this year, global recognition in a field that I love from a renowned company like Huawei.”
She added that she would love to see more women represent Nigeria in the competition in preceding years.
Mr Adebayo Samuel Oluwafemi, a 400 level student from the University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, who also won the Network Category expressed that, “The competition wasn’t really demanding because I already had a deep understanding of networking from my academy.”
He concluded saying, “Special thanks to Huawei for helping to bridge the wide gap between industries and universities.”
Huawei hosts the ICT Competition annually to provide students with a platform to compete and exchange ideas, enhance their ICT knowledge and practical skills, and foster their capabilities to innovate by using new technologies and platforms.
This year’s Global finals were held online due to preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, participants of this year’s competition will be the first to compete for a new series of Women In Tech Awards which have been designed to honor the outstanding talent displayed by the young women leaders in the competition.
The Huawei Enterprise’s President of Partner Development and Vice President of Global Partner Development and Sales, Steven Zhu, in his opening remark at the ceremony highlighted the fact that ICT industry development will require a large number of highly skilled ICT experts.
He said, “Huawei is trying to build education, industry and public talent ecosystems while improving digital skills across society so that our industry can flourish.
As an important part of Huawei’s efforts to build an education talent ecosystem, the competition is essential for promoting equitable and high-quality education.”
Education
NELFUND assures students of smart system to improve loan access
Mariam Abeeb
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has assured students it was working assiduously towards building a technology driven system that would improve easy access to its loans.
This was as the FUND disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid with many more currently undergoing verification process to enable their payments.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr gave the assurances in Abuja, while addressing Polytechnics , Monotechnics and Institutes at a Stakeholders Engagement Session/ Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.
Sawyerr noted that the FUND was targeting a platform where students could access loan with confidence and without stress in a manner that was transparent and accountable.
He said: “At NELFUND our mission goes beyond giving loans. It’s about opening doors, it’s about making sure every young Nigerian who is willing to learn and grow has a real shot regardless of their background, location, or chosen path of study.
“For too long, many students, especially in technical institutions, have faced steep financial barriers; some drop out, others have never even applied. This is the gap we at NELFUND are here to close. But we know we can’t do it alone.
“This is a shared mission. It belongs to all of us, government institutions and the private sector alike. This technical workshop marks a major step forward.
“We’re not only providing financing, we’re building a technology-driven system that makes it easier for students to apply, for institutions to verify, and for funds to be disbursed with speed, fairness, and accountability.
“We’re aiming for access without stress, a platform students can use with confidence; transparency and trust so that no one is left wondering where their application stands; partnership with purpose because your feedback, your data, and your cooperation are critical to making this work. We rely on you as our institutional partners to help us bring this vision to life.”
Sawyerr who commended the institutions for providing technical expertise, practical hands-on training that fuels industries and empowers communities over the years, said besides teaching skills, they have built careers, created employers and strengthened economies.
“You know your students, you understand their struggles, your insights will help us tailor this system to reflect the realities on ground, not just assumptions on paper.
“To NBTE, we value your steady leadership in shaping and regulating technical education. Your collaboration is key as we move forward fully.”
The NELFUND boss urged the institutions to partner with the FUND to deliver a system that was not just functional or sustainable, but one that was transformative
“As we move forward fully, integrating NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, let us remember at the heart of all of this is a student, a young Nigerian with dreams, with ambition, and the courage to pursue them. Everything we do must serve that student.
“The only way to make it happen is by working together, listening to one another, and staying grounded in real-world challenges. I encourage you all to engage fully today share what’s working and what is not, and together let’s build something that lasts.”
NELFUND ‘s Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, disclosed that apart from the 320,000 students who have so far been paid, more verifications are currently ongoing.
Mustapha, who explained that the failure of not having the number of registered students tally with the number of students whose application process was deemed successful was from the part of students and not NELFUND, said there was an urgent need to bridge the gap.
He also disclosed that the FUND was considering connecting directly to institution’s portal to get the data they need, and how student could apply to their institutions portal without necessarily reaching out to NELFUND.
“One other thing that we’re trying to do going forward is to send some of our IT to all the institutions so that we can see how possible it is we connect directly to your portal instead of saying please send us data. How can we connect using an API which makes it easier to get the data of any student coming to us directly from your portal and not from our portal. So we don’t need to be collecting any data again.
“At the same time, we’re thinking of seeing how is it possible that a student can apply to your portal without coming to us. So it makes it so easy for the student when they’re doing registration, when they’re doing payments, they can select either to apply for NELFUND loans and the process will go through your portal. So you have all the data without ever reaching to NELFUND. All we need is for you to give assurance these are your students and if we have that, we pay you directly. It makes it simpler and faster for all the students.”
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