FUTA Student and Two Others Clinch First Place at 2024 Huawei ICT Competition in China
A team of Nigerian students, including Oyewale Abdulsobur from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Esekhile Miracle from the University of Benin, and Isah Abdulazeez from Nassarawa State University, won first place in the Cloud Computing category at the 2024 Huawei ICT Global Competition in China.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
In a remarkable achievement, Oyewale Abdulsobur, a 400-level Computer Science student at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), along with Esekhile Miracle from the University of Benin and Isah Abdulazeez from Nassarawa State University, have won first place in the Cloud Computing category at the prestigious 2024 Huawei ICT Global Competition in China.
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Competing against a formidable pool of 170,000 students from over 2,000 colleges and universities across more than 80 countries, the Nigerian trio outperformed their global counterparts in the competition’s final round. This round, held on May 23, 2024, involved an intense 8-hour lab exam where teams tackled real-life scenario problems requiring advanced skills in Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence.
The road to China began with a preliminary 60-minute online exam, a prerequisite for the National Final. On December 4, 2023, the top students in Nigeria were selected after a rigorous 90-minute online exam. The Regional Final, held in Abuja, involved a 1-hour online exam and a 4-hour team lab exam. Here, Abdulsobur, Miracle, and Abdulazeez secured their victory, earning the highest prize and the ticket to the Global Final in China.
The Huawei ICT Competition is designed for students in Huawei ICT academies and higher education institutions globally. It aims to provide a platform for healthy competition, idea exchange, and the enhancement of ICT knowledge and practical skills. The competition also focuses on fostering innovation through the use of new technologies and platforms.
Oyewale Abdulsobur expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting the invaluable skills he gained. "Huawei intends to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century. My participation in the competition has opened me to skills I wouldn't have gotten for free. Looking forward, I intend to extend the reach of this competition to my fellow FUTA students," Abdulsobur said.
The Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji, praised the team for their outstanding performance. "This is another affirmation of the strength of the Nigerian youth and the huge potential they have to contribute to the development of Nigeria. The trio have done their universities and Nigeria proud. I congratulate them and wish them more wins in their future endeavors," stated Professor Oladiji.
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This victory not only showcases the exceptional talent within Nigeria’s educational institutions but also underscores the importance of international competitions in enhancing students' skills and career prospects in the ICT sector.
