Nigerian students have recorded a historic feat at the 10th Huawei Information and Communication Technology Competition Global Finals in Shenzhen, China, winning multiple top awards and setting new records in one of the world’s largest technology talent competitions.
According to a statement issued by Huawei on Tuesday, Nigerian teams secured two Grand Prizes, two First Prizes and one Second Prize at the global contest held from June 2 to 5, 2026.
The company said more than 201,000 students from over 100 countries and regions participated in this year’s competition under the theme, “Connection, Glory, Future,” including over 6,000 entrants from Nigeria.
After progressing through national and regional qualifying rounds, five Nigerian teams comprising 15 students from Ahmadu Bello University, University of Port Harcourt, University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology Minna, Igbinedion University, and Nasarawa State University advanced to the global finals, competing in the Network, Cloud, Computing and Innovation tracks.
The statement noted that Nigeria emerged with two Grand Prizes in the Innovation and Network tracks, while its two Cloud Track teams secured First Prizes. Another Nigerian team won a Second Prize in the Computing Track category.
Huawei described the achievement as a landmark moment for the country, noting that Nigeria also became the first and only nation in the competition’s history to produce two all-female teams that both won Grand Prizes.
The statement read, “Nigeria further etched its name in the competition’s history by being the first and only country to produce two all-female teams that both won Grand Prizes.”
In what the company described as a symbolic moment, Nigeria’s Consul-General in Guangzhou, Mairo Musa Abbas, presented the Grand Prize trophies to the victorious teams during the awards ceremony.
Huawei said the diplomatic recognition underscored the significance of the achievement not only for the participating universities but also for Nigeria’s growing reputation as a hub for digital talent and innovation.
“Having such a high-ranking diplomatic official hand over the ultimate trophy added an extra layer of celebration, highlighting that this historic victory is not just a win for the universities, but a monumental milestone for the entire nation,” the statement added.
A major highlight of the competition was the Grand Prize-winning Innovation Team’s project, “Paravision,” an artificial intelligence-driven healthcare solution developed using Huawei technologies. The solution is designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of malaria and intestinal parasites and was commended by judges for its practical impact and technical sophistication.
Huawei said, “A pivotal moment during the competition was the Innovation Team’s Grand Prize win with ‘Paravision’, an AI-driven healthcare solution built on Huawei’s cutting-edge tools. Designed to improve diagnosis and care for malaria and intestinal parasites, Paravision impressed judges with both its technical depth and real-world impact.”
The company said the success of the Nigerian teams demonstrated the growing capacity of the country’s young technology talents, particularly women, to develop innovative solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.
“This victory sends a clear signal that Nigerian students, especially young women in technology, are not just end-users of technology; they are creating solutions, driving innovation, and shaping the digital future,” the statement said.
It added, “With the right industry-academic partnerships, hands-on ICT training can unlock world-class innovation, and in the AI era, Nigeria’s talent pipeline is ready to lead.”
The Huawei Information and Communication Technology Competition is an annual global programme that provides university students and lecturers with a platform for technical exchange, innovation and skills development. Since its launch in 2015, participation has grown significantly across the world.
The competition is recognised by the UNESCO Global Skills Academy as one of its flagship partnership programmes, while in China, it has been listed among the country’s national competitions for university students.
The latest achievement adds to a growing record of strong performances by Nigerian students in international technology competitions and highlights increasing investments in digital skills development, innovation and artificial intelligence education across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
