China-backed tech skill contest fetes African students

By Mujidu VICTOR

About 49 Africa Tech Challenge Season VIII (ATC) students were awarded following at this year’s Africa Tech Challenge held in Nairobi.

The contest initiated and supported by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) involved 83 teams formed by 332 participants drawn from nine African countries including Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The event that commenced in July to August equipped the contesters with various skills from CNC lathe machining as well as mechanical drawings and CAD software application.

In the event, a student from the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), Victor Ngumbau Mue, took first place in the CNC lathe machining Individual category.

Another feted student was John Takudzwa from Harare Polytechnic in Zimbabwe who emerged second overall in the CNC lathe machining individual category. He ascribed his journey as a success that was brought by teamwork and mentorship from the instructors.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lauded AVIC International for the contest saying it plays a key role in enhancing technical skills of students pursuing technical courses in in higher learning institutions across the country.

“The skills being learned by the students will help the country in reducing the level of unemployment and reduce the poverty index in the country through cultivating the spirit of entrepreneurship as a way of encouraging innovation among youth in the country,” Gachagua said, adding that the competition lays a strong emphasis on youth-driven information communication technology (ICT) potential to support new-age industries that leverage innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and other technologies that enhance Kenya’s productivity and competitiveness.

Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary, Esther Muoria echoed the deputy President’s comments that the contest is an important tool because it conveys outcomes of a good TVET system. She added that the competition acts as a steering towards tapping opportunities that may result in skills advancement.

While encouraging the youth to bank on the TVET program, Ms. Muoria said that the Education sector is determined to implement a set of initiatives to continue supporting technical skills.

“These will include revitalizing TVETs to mainstream and improve its perception, rationalizing and streamlining the TVET sector in terms of provisioning operating model and functioning structures”, she said.

AVIC International Engineering Company Vice President, Xu Fei, also added that the contest has instilled knowledge and skills for African students, especially on how to design and manufacture mechanical parts that are needed for industrial processes.

To help in the realization of youth skills and innovation, Xu noted that his organization is keen to share with Africa the expertise it has acquired over the years in cultivating technical skills in the continent.

However, in the CAD team category, TUK took first place with Eldoret National Polytechnic (Kenya) coming in second place, followed by Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (Tanzania).

In the CNC team category, TUK (Kenya) took the lead followed by Harare Polytechnic (Zimbabwe) and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (Tanzania) emerged third.

China’s cooperation with Kenya in the technical and vocational education sector has already begun to yield positive results through joint projects and knowledge sharing that have up-skilled the local labor force.

The ATC is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) youth empowerment project by AVIC International that was launched in 2014 and has so far benefited 1,292 participants from 10 African countries.