The tech giant aims to equip an additional 150,000 people in the region with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) expertise over the next three years.

This ambitious plan builds upon Huawei’s prior success, having surpassed its initial goal of training 100,000 individuals by 2025, achieving a remarkable 120% completion rate ten months ahead of schedule.

The announcement took place at the LEAP Summit 2024: ICT Talent and Sustainable Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, held in Shanghai, China, on June 28th.

The summit, co-hosted by Huawei and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), is an official partner program of Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2024.

The event brought together over 200 guests, including high-ranking government officials from various Sub-Saharan African nations. This gathering highlighted the critical need to equip the region’s workforce with digital skills.

Reports from the World Economic Forum indicate that over a billion people globally require upskilling or reskilling by 2030.

Furthermore, the International Financial Corporation estimates that more than 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will necessitate digital expertise by 2030.

Jeff Wang, Senior Vice President and President of Public Affairs and Communications at Huawei, addressed the summit, outlining the company’s commitment to inclusive, systematic, and future-oriented talent development.

He expressed satisfaction with the LEAP program’s achievements, stating, “Since launching the LEAP Digital Talent Development Program in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022, we’re delighted to see the positive impact it’s had on so many people.”