OpeOluwa Akintayo
Lagos — Huawei Technologies Limited has joined forces with one of Nigeria’s foremost higher institutions, University of Ibadan on a job fair for students of the school as an earnest continuation of efforts to enlighten, groom and prepare them in their deliberate future careers in Information and Communication Technology.
Held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Ibadan, the fair afforded the students an avenue for a one day of campus talk and interviews.
Kennth Igwe, Huawei Channel Training Manager (ICT Talent Ecosystem Development) in Nigeria, during an interview with the media, stated that “the event is where the Huawei Talent Ecosystem comes 360”, this implies that “Huawei has trained the students in career certification and has given them work opportunities which is the crowning”, adding that he expects the students “to showcase themselves as people who are ready for the industry and go out there and live their names in the sands of time”.
Prof. A.B Ekanola, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, while speaking to the students at the Campus Talk session, stated that the training affords the students with soft skills on not just how to cope at the local market but also internationally, especially giving the reality of the pandemic.
The Vice Chancellor promised that “Huawei would not be disappointed in bringing the initiative to the University of Ibadan, and that the school would like to collaborate with more key players in the ICT field and have a rational dialogue that would be of benefit to both parties.
Professor Abiona Adekeye, Dean of Student Affairs of the institution stated that “the corporation model between Huawei and the University of Ibadan is a phenomenal opportunity for the students of the University of Ibadan to get exposed to ICT. He commended Huawei for the opportunity to partner with the University, stating that the “partnership is a win-win situation”. He urged the students to “seize the rare opportunity Huawei has created to grow in ICT, and become employable in the competitive world”.
One of Huawei’s instructors, Soyi Adisa, Deputy Director (Training & Research, Information and Technology & Media Services) at the University, stated that the partnership between Huawei and the University is beneficial because the students have been greatly impacted in the ICT field.
“The sustainability of the program is the catch-them –young approach implored by Huawei” he stated. He added that “Huawei has provided the University an opportunity to bridge the ICT gap in Nigeria in the Information and Technology age and given the students an opportunity to compete with their counterparts in the world”.
Chioma Okonkwo, the Head of Human Resources at Activedge Technologies Limited, a Pan-African IT Solutions Provider, partnered with Huawei Technologies Limited for the job fair. Speaking, she stated that “the goal of the partnership between Huawei and Activedge is impacting, training and giving the selected students the opportunity to add value to the company, leveraging the technical skills acquired while in school and the company for the global world”.
Moses Okolo of Technology Distribution African Limited, the foremost distributor of ICT products in sub-Saharan Africa for 22 years, stated that “the job fair organised by Huawei is a brilliant idea which affords the students the opportunity in cutting edge and get acquainted with the future relevant technologies”.
He applauded Huawei for the opportunity to partner with the company.
Mr. Samuel Ekudare, Teamlead for Cloud Exchange West Africa, a company responsible for System Integrators and Data Centre Services, speaking to the students during the campus talk, challenged the students to change the narrative in technology in Nigeria.
“The positive side outweighs the negative. The rare opportunity from Huawei is an induction to change the trajectory of ICT in Nigeria”, he said.
Isaac Ade, a final year student of Statistics at the University said such initiative is rare. He expressed delight at being “exposed to different companies on the Huawei platform and what the companies offer and how the students can fit into the category”.
AyodeleOluwa, a 500 level student of Law at the University, stated that the job-fair and campus talk is an enlightening platform.
“The Job Fair is applaudable because it affords the youths the opportunity to harness the resources in ICT”. “I know the initiative is sustainable because Huawei is looking for opportunities to bridge the gap in ICT in Nigeria with the focal point on the youth which is a brilliant idea. She wished the Job Fair would be done each year in the University to educate more students.
The Huawei job fair and campus talk team that visited University of Ibadan was made up of 8 members led by the Huawei Channel Training Manager, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, Kenneth Igwe, who said Huawei is resolute in visiting more universities across the country which are part of the Huawei Authorized Information and Network Academy universities and related colleges (Huawei ICT Academy).
