Chinese technology giant Huawei is intensifying efforts to bridge the gender gap in the digital economy, equipping young women in South Africa with practical skills in artificial intelligence, coding and digital entrepreneurship.
The initiative was rolled out during the global Girls in ICT Day, where Huawei South Africa partnered with UN Women to host a programme aimed at inspiring and preparing young women for careers in technology.
Held under the theme “CTRL + SHE: Where She Takes Control of the Future,” the event brought together students from Gauteng and Limpopo, including participants from the African Girls Can Code Initiative, alongside members of Huawei’s Graduate Programme. The programme combined technical exposure with mentorship, offering participants a direct view into careers within the ICT sector.
Huawei officials stressed that the initiative goes beyond symbolic participation, focusing instead on equipping women with real, market-relevant skills. Vanashree Govender, a senior communications executive at Huawei South Africa, said the platform was designed to connect aspiring professionals with experienced women already shaping the tech industry.
Chief Operating Officer Christina Naidoo highlighted the company’s progress in talent development, noting that more than 350 graduates have entered the industry through Huawei’s Graduate Programme since 2017, with women accounting for half of that intake. She emphasised that representation across labs, development teams and executive spaces is critical to building a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
Huawei’s broader skills pipeline continues to expand through initiatives such as its ICT Academy and Code for Mzansi, which collectively reached over 15,000 students in 2025 alone. These programmes are part of a wider strategy to strengthen Africa’s digital workforce while addressing structural inequalities in access to tech education.
At the policy level, speakers warned that technological advancement alone does not guarantee inclusion. Dr Hazel Gooding of UN Women cautioned that artificial intelligence could reinforce existing inequalities if not intentionally designed and governed. She pointed to risks such as algorithmic bias and the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, urging stakeholders to embed ethical considerations into digital development.
Industry voices also reinforced the importance of resilience and adaptability. Entrepreneur Queen Ndlovu, founder of QP Drone Tech, encouraged participants to pursue opportunities in emerging sectors despite barriers, highlighting her own transition into the drone industry without a formal ICT background.
The event also showcased real success stories from within Huawei’s ecosystem. Graduate Programme alumna Nosipho Zwane, now a network product manager and solution architect, underscored the importance of confidence and ownership in navigating the tech space, while student coder Kgoetsimang Mulaudzi described coding as a powerful tool for transforming ideas into real-world solutions.
The initiative reflects a broader shift among global technology firms to invest in human capital development across Africa, particularly as demand for digital skills accelerates. For Huawei, the focus on women is both a diversity agenda and a strategic move to unlock untapped talent in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
As Africa positions itself within the global technology landscape, efforts to expand participation—especially among women—are increasingly seen as essential to building sustainable innovation ecosystems and ensuring inclusive economic growth.
