Huawei ICT Congress 2026 Spotlights AI, Talent and Smart Campus Innovation in Namibia
Artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-driven technologies are reshaping how societies learn, work and innovate. This shift was central to the Huawei ICT Congress 2026, held in Windhoek on 13 May 2026 under the theme Advancing All Intelligence.
The congress brought together government, academia, industry leaders, innovators and development partners to discuss Namibia’s digital transformation agenda in line with the Sixth National Development Plan. Key discussions focused on smart infrastructure, digital skills, research capacity, inclusive innovation and economic competitiveness.
During the technical sessions, Huawei showcased smart campus ecosystems powered by Wi-Fi 7, optical networking, cloud platforms, high performance computing and AI-enabled research environments. The discussions aligned closely with NUST’s research and innovation trajectory, particularly through its UNESCO Chair on Secure High-Performance Computing for Higher Education and Research, which supports research, training, collaboration and the development of high-level supercomputing capacity in Namibia.
The evening session placed strong emphasis on talent development. Hannah Han, Vice President of Huawei’s Southern Africa Multi-Country Management Department, announced a five-year national talent cultivation programme aimed at strengthening Namibia’s digital workforce. The programme targets the training of 1,000 ICT learners, certification of 50 professional engineers, development of 200 women engineers, expansion of Huawei ICT Academies with university partners and women-focused technical training.
A key highlight was Yyeni AI, an artificial intelligence-powered educational chatbot developed by young Namibian innovators Vitalis P. Haupindi and Lotto N. Nanghonda Jr. Incubated at the NUST Innovation Hub, Yyeni AI secured first place in Huawei’s global Tech4Good Competition, winning US$100,000 in international prize funding. Designed as a smart study assistant, Yyeni AI provides learners with academic support, study guidance and accessible learning assistance.
The launch of the Women in Tech Namibia National Talent Cultivation Programme added a strong inclusion dimension to the congress. Huawei and its partners committed to supporting the development of 1,000 women in technology over the next five years. Ms Valerie Garises, Director of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at NUST, was among the selected strategic partners invited on stage to officially launch the programme, signalling NUST’s role in advancing entrepreneurship, digital skills, technology commercialisation and inclusive innovation.
The congress made clear that Namibia’s digital future will depend on more than technology. It will require research capacity, skilled people, strong partnerships and inclusive innovation. Through smart infrastructure, high performance computing, youth-led AI solutions and women-centred digital skills development, Namibia’s digital future is being shaped through knowledge, partnership and purpose.
