It’s a big, hairy, audacious goal but Huawei is committed to training 1 million ICT professionals over the next two years to help address the global skills shortage
Unpacking the skills deficit
Driving the need for this investment is the increasingly rapid pace of digital transformation worldwide – a trend that chafes against the World Bank’s talent deficit forecast of 10 million people to 2027.
More than 170 countries have announced digital strategies (https://bit.ly/3CSIndP), and digital transformation is seen as the key to improving GDP and productivity. It is a key focus for industries including ICT, finance, manufacturing and agriculture.
The talent shortage is most pronounced in Asia but is also a concern internationally for the ICT community, governments, employers and workers. According to the International Labor Organization (https://bit.ly/3sbJDnJ), the “lack of skilled labor will constrain future growth and job creation in the sector, but with the right policies in place, the digital economy could make a significant contribution to advancing decent work and inclusive economic growth at global, regional and national levels.”
Adding to the issue is a gap in the education of ICT professionals that means their skills don’t meet industry standards. This has resulted in a lack of talent to fill roles and placed pressure on the existing workforce. A Gartner report (https://gtnr.it/3DpCmal) further explains IT executives view the shortage as “the most significant adoption barrier to 64% of emerging technologies, compared to just 4% in 2020. A lack of talent availability was cited far more often than other barriers this year, such as implementation cost (29%) or security risk (7%).”
Huawei at the coalface of building the talent ecosystem
At the forefront of digital transformation, Huawei understands delivery standards are only as good as the talent executing and that the requisite staff numbers are voluminous.
The leading global ICT company also knows the importance of nurturing talent. They’ve been doing so since launching their ICT Academy in 2013. Huawei ICT Academy program now trains more than 150,000 students annually in collaboration with around 2,000 universities and colleges in over 100 countries. Huawei also partners with top institutions such as Tsinghua University in China and Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia to equip both students and teachers with knowledge and skills that are relevant to the industry’s needs. From innovation training camp to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the Huawei Talent platform (which includes webinars and exams), various offerings have been developed during the academic-industry collaboration.
Coursework and practical training prepare students with current state qualifications in disciplines such as routing and switching, storage, cloud, WLAN, cloud computing, and big data as well as next generation technologies including IoT, big data and cloud computing.
Huawei’s strategy is built on a holistic view that addresses the skilled labor shortage, the education gap, and the needs of ICT professionals.
It is a three-pronged approach Huawei calls the Three Trees model of talent development and which comprises three key areas:
Education
More than 2000 Huawei ICT Academies have been set up, and over 17,000 students have passed Huawei’s certifications.
A lack of talent availability was cited far more often than other barriers this year, such as implementation cost 29% or security risk 7%
Partnerships with colleges and universities, education authorities, and international education organizations are tailored to:
deliver leading ICT, course systems, and engineering practices
improve teaching quality of ICT disciplines
cultivate a culture of innovation among workers.
The industry
Huawei’s end to end talent development solution has been built hand in hand with government and industry bodies to facilitate career path development for individuals and promote digital transformation. Graduates emerge industry ready, equipped with hard and soft skills in:
leadership and management
business
connectivity
cloud computing
app development
digital transformation for enterprises
Public
In spite of advancements during COVID-19, the digital divide remains a global source of social inequality. According to UNICEF, 87% of young people in rich countries have internet coverage (https://bit.ly/3z0r3CN) compared to 6% in low income nations. As part of its mission to bridge this gap and promote sustainable social development, Huawei provides a talent development system through 120 authorized learning partners. Each year, 85,000 trainees are Huawei certified to help upskill the public in digital technology. More than 17,000 have entered global job market as Huawei Certified ICT Expert (HCIE) since the commencement of the certification system.
UNESCO is just one success story in the ICT talent ecosystem. “UNESCO is committed to making digital technology a tool for progress in all its fields of competence,” says Firmin Edouard Matoko, Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations of UNESCO. “Thanks to its partnerships with industry leaders such as Huawei, the organization is working toward linking educational institutions with private partners.”
Competitions and educational opportunities
Launched in 2015, Huawei’s annual ICT competitions are an integral part of the talent cultivation lifecycle, providing aspiring ICT professionals with exposure to industry best practices and trends. ICT Academy students who complete their training and go to internships are eligible to participate in the ICT competitions where the brightest minds compete to create innovative digital applications and products.
Huawei also offers its Seeds for the Future program to STEM students, who go to the company’s Chinese headquarters to study leading-edge ICT technology in a cross-cultural setting.
Emmanuel Lucas Chaula, an ICT professional in his homeland of Tanzania and part-time Huawei ICT Academy instructor, is a beneficiary of Huawei’s mission to foster a breeding ground of talent. Four years ago, as a student, he participated in Huawei ICT competition. He attended training sessions and learned about new technologies. He won the first prize in the Southern Africa region and later Outstanding Performance in the global final.
After the Competition, Emanuel joined Huawei’s free Train the Trainer Program. He now teaches others about Huawei’s technologies, and helps students acquire the ICT skills to succeed.
Huawei will continue building this ICT talent ecosystem with a target of training more than 1 million ICT professionals and experts by 2024 (https://bit.ly/3ShICoF), working with governments, industry organizations, and universities to develop a global future-ready workforce that creates new value for the industry.
To learn more about ICT talent ecosystem, please click here (https://bit.ly/3TwwfWA).
![Canon’s RF/EF lens production exceeds 170 million units, extending its world record in interchangeable lens production Both EF and RF lenses have gained strong support from a wide range of users—from beginners to professionals—leading to steady growth in production volume Canon Inc. announced that, in October 2025, Canon reached a historic milestone of producing a cumulative total of 170 million RF and EF interchangeable lenses for its EOS series, extending its world record for the highest number of interchangeable camera lenses ever produced. The EF lens was introduced in 1987 as the dedicated lens system for Canon’s EOS autofocus single-lens reflex film camera, debuting simultaneously with the EOS system itself. Since their inception, EF lenses have led the industry by incorporating a series of world-first technologies, including the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, and a multilayered Diffractive Optical (DO) element, and have undergone numerous evolutions. In 2018, Canon launched the RF lens series, designed for the EOS R mirrorless camera system, which features a large aperture, short back focus, and high-speed communication system to deliver even higher image quality. The RF and EF lens series lineup now includes a total of 108 models , covering a wide range of focal lengths from ultra-wide 10mm to super-telephoto 1200mm. The series also includes the world’s first VR lens lenses with built-in power zoom suited for video shooting, and even those compatible with power zoom adapters—expanding the scope of creative expression and meeting the diverse needs of users for both still photography and video. EF lens production began at Canon’s Utsunomiya Plant in 1987. Since then, both EF and RF lenses have gained strong support from a wide range of users—from beginners to professionals—leading to steady growth in production volume. Today, Canon manufactures lenses at five sites: Utsunomiya Plant; Canon Inc., Taiwan; Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.; Oita Canon Inc.; and Miyazaki Canon Inc. Milestones include 10 million units produced by 1995 and 50 million by 2009. Then in 2014, Canon became the first company in the world to reach 100 million interchangeable camera lenses produced. In October 2025, the company reached 170 million units, leading to the achievement of this world record. The 170 millionth lens produced was the RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z. Canon has maintained the No.1 global market share for digital interchangeable-lens cameras for 22 consecutive years since 2003. Moving forward, Canon will continue to refine its proprietary imaging technologies and further strengthen and expand its lens lineup, pioneering new imaging possibilities and contributing to the continued evolution of photographic and video culture. Highlights in the development of the RF/EF Lens Series The EF lens, which was introduced alongside EOS in March 1987, has adopted a variety of world-first technologies, including Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, featured in the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM released in 1995; a multilayered Diffractive Optical (DO) element, used in the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM launched in 2001; and Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) [7], applied to the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM released in 2008. In 2021, Canon launched the EOS VR System, a VR video system consisting of a mirrorless camera [8], dedicated lens, and PC software, thereby creating a 3D 180° VR video through an interchangeable lens camera. In 2024, Canon began rolling out a new series of hybrid lenses equipped with iris rings, designed to meet the needs of both still photography and professional video production. For zoom lenses, the company has also launched RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z and RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z which are compatible with power zoom adapters. For single focus lenses, the company released F1.4 L hybrid prime lens series that unified the size and ring and button position across models. In September 2025, Canon launched RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, the fifth model in this series, demonstrating that it can meet demands in line with the changing times. [1] Includes EF, EF-S, EF-M, EF Cinema, RF, RF-S, and RF Cinema lenses and extenders. As of October 21, 2025 (according to a survey by Canon) [2] Among SLR cameras (according to a survey by Canon) [3] Number of products sold as of October 22, 2025 (including extenders). The number of lens models for sale is different according to market figures. [4] Focal length is 5.2mm to 1200mm when including VR lenses [5] An interchangeable digital camera lens that enables VR footage with a single camera. Among interchangeable lens digital cameras released as of October 5, 2021 (according to a survey by Canon) [6] Refers to unit share (according to a survey by Canon) [7] A special coating with advanced anti-reflective properties [8] For applicable cameras, please visit the official Canon website *Release dates in this document refer to dates in Japan. Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market. Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa. Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.](https://businessinsights.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1.-Canon-EOS-R50-Mirrorless-Camera-for-Beginners-1024x764-1-100x70.jpg "Canon makes history with 170 Million lenses milestone")
