Room C 1 of the King Fahd Palace vibrated to the rhythm of discussions on the digital future of Senegal, during the annual Huawei DigiTruck ceremony.
This initiative, an integral part of Huawei’s global Tech4All program, is part of a resolute approach to reducing the digital divide and developing the skills of Senegalese youth, in the face of contemporary social, economic and environmental challenges.
Launched in March 2023, the DigiTruck is the result of a multilateral partnership that brings together several key players. Huawei, the project leader, has surrounded itself with strategic partners, such as Sonatel Orange, which ensures connectivity, the Ministry of Youth, which guarantees coordination with local authorities, as well as the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, the Ministry of National Education and the Close the Gap association. Together, they work to offer young Senegalese people quality training in digital skills.
An encouraging assessment
The ceremony began with an inspiring speech by Mr. Lionel Liu, CEO of Huawei Senegal, who highlighted the critical importance of digital inclusion for the country’s development. According to him, the DigiTruck has already trained over 3,100 young people across 7 regions and 28 communes, with a remarkable 56% female participation rate. This success demonstrates not only the effectiveness of the initiative, but also the thirst for learning and integrating into the digital economy among young Senegalese people, especially young girls.
The interventions then followed one after the other, including that of the Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Vocational Training, who welcomed the initiative, describing it as a model to follow for other training programs. The representatives of the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, for their part, reiterated their commitment to work more with Huawei to develop similar projects across the country.
Ms. Head of CSR Department of Sonatel Orange recalled the long-standing strategic partnership between Sonatel and Huawei, highlighting their shared vision of digital inclusion and vocational training for young people. She also highlighted Sonatel Orange’s many initiatives in this area, contributing to the empowerment of young Senegalese people.
Promising prospects
The audience also included representatives of other major digital stakeholders, including the Chief of Civil Staff of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, with whom a civic vacation project is planned from August 29 to September 19. During this period, the DigiTruck will travel to 8 military camps in Dakar to train young people in digital skills, an initiative that is part of the dynamic of strengthening civic capacities.
The ceremony continued with a panel rich in lessons, bringing together renowned speakers such as Mr. Elimane Ba from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ms. Khadija Mayecor Diouf, Mayor of the Commune of Golf Sud, who recently hosted the DigiTruck at the Professional Opportunities Forum, and Mr. Demba Gueye, General Manager of AZERTY. Each of them highlighted the importance of digital innovations for the social and professional inclusion of young people.
The panelists also stressed the need to develop the ” soft skills ” among young graduates, skills that are often neglected but essential for their professional integration. Mr. Mouhamadou Moustapha Diop, Head of the Digital Citizenship and CSR Governance Department at Groupe Sonatel-Orange Senegal, and Mr. Abdou Khadre Diallo, General Manager of VOLKENO, each shared the actions undertaken by their entities to promote the training and professional integration of young people.
A digital future in progress
The ceremony provided a physical tour of the Huawei DigiTruck, allowing visitors and partners to experience the equipment and training offered up close. The enthusiastic reception to the project is a testament to its potential to transform Senegal’s digital future.
The presence of many digital players, such as FESTIC, Daaratech, ASUTIC, SocialNetlink, the National Digital Youth Debate, CEDEPS of Pikine, the municipalities of Malika, Golf Sud, etc., demonstrates the growing interest in initiatives aimed at reducing the digital divide and strengthening the skills of young people. The Huawei DigiTruck, through its innovative and inclusive approach, asserts itself as a key player in this digital transformation.
Together, these initiatives contribute to making Senegal a model in terms of digital inclusion, where every young person, regardless of their region or gender, has the opportunity to train, integrate professionally and actively contribute to the development of their country.
