Huawei Uganda has today donated ICT study equipment to Makerere University as a fulfillment of its promise to the Capital’s top University. The new equipment will aid hands-on sessions at the Huawei ICT Academy which was launched last year at the College of Computer and Information Sciences.
Having launched the Huawei ICT Academy in May 2019, the ICT company’s goal is to train and certify over 1000 students free of charge for the next 2years. Additionally, the academy has been extended to more Ugandan universities as Icing to the ICT literacy cake.
While handing over new ICT equipment in the presence of the University Vice-Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, NITA-Uganda Executive Director Dr. Mugasa Hatwib, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Finance Prof. Hisali Eria , and the Principal College of computing Professor Tonny Oyana. Huawei’s Managing Director Mr. Gaofei inked that the donation is to aid hands-on exercises and simulations at the ICT Academy as he said:
“The reason we are here today is to donate the ICT Academy equipment to aid this ICT Academy to give hands-on training of the academy courses. This is a fulfillment of our MOU signed in May 2019. We shall also donate to three more academies in Uganda”
Mr. Gaofei – Managing Director, Huawei Uganda
Upon receiving the donation, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere Professor Barnabas Nawangwe commended Huawei for the donation and them being an industry leader.
“Today Huawei Technologies donated equipment router and switches to support Huawei ICT Academy program. We are very excited about its potential in changing the IT landscape in Uganda and beyond. I am grateful to Huawei for this donation. I know them (Huawei) and I have been to their headquarters, they are a market leader and have heavily invested in research and development,”
Prof Barnabas Nawangwe
Dr. Mugasa Hatwib, the executive Director of NITA-U and also the guest of honor. expressed his passion for research and innovation and stressed that the donated equipment by Huawei shall aid the college of computing of Makerere in this role. He commended Huawei for their fulfillment and pledged constant support to the university.
“Thanks to Huawei for this wonderful donation. This is part of the commitment that Huawei undertook to train 1000 students and equip their learning institutions.
Collective participation is how we shall digitize Uganda. I love research and innovation and I believe that this donation shall aid in the same,” he said.
Professor Tonny Oyana, the Principal College of Computing and Information science emphasized that the ICT Academy initiative are right within the strategic plan of Makerere that is being implemented between 2020 and 2030
According to Huawei’s Managing Director Mr. Gaofei, the donation comes as a fulfillment of the pledge Huawei made to Makerere of donating equipment to the University to aide in the hands-on study in the academy.
“With this donation, we believe that we shall trigger exploration which lights the way forward. And furthermore we believe that this exploration begins with sharing wisdom, and exchange of ideas to open up exciting new possibilities in a digital world”, he added.
The Huawei ICT Academy course combines both theories and practical operations which range from Enterprise Networks such as Routing and Switching, Advanced Network and Network technology, information technology such as Storage, Cloud computing, and big data.