Huawei Empowers Future Women Leaders on Girls in ICT Day 2025
Huawei hosted a high-impact event at its Johannesburg campus to commemorate International Girls in ICT Day 2025, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UN Women’s African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI).
The celebration brought together female executives, technology leaders, and top-performing young women from AGCCI and Huawei’s Graduate Programme under the theme “Shaping the Future, One Connection at a Time.”
The event aimed to create an inclusive and supportive environment for girls and young women in STEM by connecting them with mentors and industry professionals. It also highlighted the wide range of opportunities available in ICT and encouraged participants to pursue careers that will drive Africa’s digital transformation.
Keynote speaker Cynthia Lesufi, Minister Counsellor to the ITU and candidate for African Telecommunication Union Secretary General, addressed the persistent gender imbalance in the tech space. “Although women make up nearly half the global population, they represent just 28% of the global STEM workforce, and the numbers are even lower in Africa,” she noted. Drawing from her two-decade-long career, she emphasized the importance of women asserting their place in the industry and creating space for others.
Christina Naidoo, Huawei’s Chief Operating Officer, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to gender equity. She reflected on her 15-year journey in tech and highlighted Huawei’s Graduate Programme, which since 2017 has empowered more than 318 graduates, 50% of them women. “Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about vision and courage,” Naidoo said. “And the ICT sector is where transformation begins.”
Asanda Shabalala, a Solution Architect and Product Manager at Huawei, shared her growth from a software graduate to a leadership role. “Representation matters. I want the face of ICT to be young women who are taken seriously,” she said. Her message encouraged flexibility and lifelong learning in a rapidly evolving sector.
Siya Leshabane from UN Women South Africa emphasized the AGCCI’s broader vision. “The digital gender divide is man-made, and we can fix it,” she declared. She explained how the initiative has trained 129 girls in South Africa by integrating technical training with career and entrepreneurship development.
Students and recent graduates added powerful testimonials. Victoria Phago, an IT and computer science student, shared how the AGCCI opened her eyes to the range of careers in tech and enabled her to dream beyond her community in Shoshanguve.
Lauretta Morudi, 18, from Mpumalanga, urged her peers to remain curious and bold. Nosipho Zwane, now a project manager at Huawei, told students: “Take charge. You belong in this space. Let your skills guide your success.”
The event included a guided tour of Huawei’s Innovation Centre, offering students firsthand exposure to the company’s advanced technology and talent development strategies.
In closing, Lesufi reminded the young women of their critical role in shaping Africa’s future: “You are not the future leaders—you are present disruptors. Let your imagination define the limits in your communities and careers.”
She ended with a powerful quote from former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”
Huawei’s 2025 International Girls in ICT celebration served as a catalyst for inclusion, innovation, and the nurturing of Africa’s next generation of women leaders in technology.
