NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Two hundred Kenyan youth from the country's northeastern semi-arid region have graduated from a digital skills training program sponsored by Chinese telecoms firm Huawei.
Senior government officials, lawmakers and industry executives graced the graduation ceremony, stressing the critical role of digital literacy among youth in powering the growth of Kenya's knowledge-based economy.
Ummir Bashir, principal secretary in the State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage, said Kenya is relying on the digital skills of its youthful population to achieve inclusive growth and enhance competitiveness.
Bashir hailed the six-week Huawei-supported training course under its flagship DigiTruck program, saying it enabled the youth to acquire market-relevant skills.
"As we move deeper into a digital world driven by technology and social media, these skills are essential for meaningful participation in today's economy," she said at the ceremony on Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
Launched in Kenya in 2019, the Huawei DigiTruck is a solar-powered mobile classroom designed to deliver free, hands-on digital skills training directly to grassroots communities, boosting digital inclusion in the country.
So far, the DigiTruck has reached 40 of Kenya's 47 counties, providing digital skills training to about 9,000 local youth.
The program, implemented by Huawei in partnership with state agencies, aims to equip youth with practical competencies in basic digital literacy, online safety, data privacy and entrepreneurship.
Yuta Leng, director of public affairs at Huawei Kenya, said the company remains committed to bridging the digital divide in Kenya through youth-centered training and mentorship.
"Through initiatives like DigiTruck, we are ensuring that every community has the skills needed to participate meaningfully in the digital economy," Leng said.
Aden Daudi, a lawmaker from Wajir County in northeastern Kenya, hailed the DigiTruck program for helping eliminate the skills and infrastructure gaps that have prevented youth in marginalized regions from acquiring digital literacy. ■