UDSM students emerge winners of grand prize in ICT global competition

SHENZHEN: THREE students from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) have won the grand prize in the ICT Global Competition 2023-2024 Global Final.

The grand prize worth 8m/-(24000 Yuan). The winners were warmly welcomed at Julius Nyerere International Airport on Wednesday from Shenzhen, China.

Acting Director of the ICT Commission, Eng Sadath Kalolo who was at the airport to welcome the three winners said their victory is a significant achievement not only for the University of Dar es Salaam but also for the nation at large.

“I congratulate these young people on their win. This victory is not just theirs but a win for the whole country. They have demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of ICT and innovation. I also extend my congratulations to the University of Dar es Salaam professors for their outstanding work,” said Eng. Kalolo who is also the Director for Professional Services.

He emphasized that their success is crucial in building confidence among Tanzanian youth in ICT and innovation.

“These Huawei competitions are highly prestigious internationally, so the achievement of these young individuals in securing first place boosts confidence not only for them but also for other students and innovators across the country,” Eng.

Kalolo added. Eng. Kalolo also mentioned that the ICT Commission has established eight soft centers in different regions as part of a strategy to incubate talent in the ICT and innovation sectors.

These regions include the eastern zone with centers in Dar es Salaam and Lindi, the northern zone in Arusha and Tanga, the lake zone in Mwanza, the southern zone in Mbeya, and the central zone in Zanzibar.

He added that the Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye has also expressed his delight for their achievement.

He said, “The minister has promised to meet the students upon his return to the country.”

The ICT Global Competition, organized by Huawei, aims at providing university students with an international platform for healthy competition and the exchange of ideas.

This year’s competition, which culminated on Monday, was a nine-month initiative that included national, regional, and global levels, involving teams from 49 countries.

At the national level, 1,000 participants were narrowed down to nine, forming three teams of three. The winning team, consisting of students from the University of Dar es Salaam, advanced to represent Tanzania at the global level.

This year’s competition attracted over 170,000 students from more than 2,000 universities and colleges in over 80 countries and regions, making it the largest offline competition since its inception in 2015.

More than 160 teams, totaling 470 contestants from 49 countries and regions, reached the global final held in Shenzhen over four days from May 23rd to 26th.

Eng. Jummane Ally, the mentor of the students from the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), noted the fierce competition at the global level and credited the students’ victory to their focused teamwork during the contest.

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He also thanked the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology for facilitating the students’ participation.

One of the grand prize winners, James Amos, a third-year student at UDSM, explained that the competition was divided into two major categories: practical and innovation.

Their team excelled in the network tracking category, which had 51 teams, and emerged winners.

“Our category involved network tracking, which focused on how to connect people, enable phone calls, and facilitate communication.

The secret to our success was dedication and teamwork,” Amos said. The Head of the ICT Department at UDSM, Prof Baraka Maiseli, praised the students for their exemplary representation of the university and the nation at large.

“This event has greatly honored the University of Dar es Salaam. This victory demonstrates that Tanzania has exceptionally talented youth,” Prof Maiseli remarked, urging the government to further develop and nurture such talent.