Africa Focus: Chinese firm rewards Kenyan innovators with cash prize, scholarships

Kenyan students who emerged winners of the just concluded African Technology Challenge sponsored by AVIC International on Friday received cash prizes and scholarships to study in China.

Cabinet Secretary for education Jacob Kaimenyi and senior executives from AVIC International graced the ceremony to honor winners of mobile app and technical challenge awards sponsored by the Chinese aerospace and defense firm.

In his opening remarks, Kaimenyi hailed bilateral ties with China in the field of science and technology to accelerate Kenya's industrial progress.

"The African Technology challenge competition sponsored by AVIC International has promoted skills development among the Kenyan youth. It has also fostered culture of innovations in our institutions of higher learning," Kaimenyi remarked.

The second edition of Africa Technology Challenge that was launched in July attracted hundreds of applications from Kenyan universities and colleges.

166 applicants were selected to participate in the rigorous contest to test their prowess in the use of machines and development of mobile applications.

Chinese experts trained Kenyan students on the use of machines to help improve their career prospects after graduating from technical colleges.

The education minister noted that African Technology Challenge realigns with the government's commitment to strengthen academia-industry linkages that are crucial to address youth unemployment.

"We have committed resources to develop robust technical, vocational, educational and training (TVET) institutions to help our youth become self reliant," said Kaimenyi.

He noted that technology and skills transfer facilitated by Chinese firms has created new jobs for Kenyan youth.

Both the Kenyan and Chinese governments have endorsed a long-term cooperation framework to enhance skills transfer as a means to boost job creation and economic growth.

The Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Kenya Yao Ming said technology and skills transfer underpins a bilateral cooperation that has unleashed mutual benefits.

"Kenya and Chinese governments have prioritized capacity development for the youth alongside people to people exchanges that are growing faster," Yao remarked.

He added that technology transfer is a key component of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs executed by Chinese companies in their host countries.

AVIC International offered cash rewards to six winners of the African technology challenge and three winners of the Mobile App challenge.

The corporation announced six job opportunities and three scholarships for outstanding contestants.

Du Juan, the Africa Technology Challenge organizer from AVIC International said the awards were aimed at incentivizing Kenyan youth to innovate and contribute to the country's economic growth. Endit