11 Nov 2019

As the University of Botswana (UB) seeks to focus on improving research capacity in order to contribute to building a knowledge-based economy, digital technology will be a key element in moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

This was said by Mr Meng Qingbao, the vice president of Enterprise Business Group for Southern Africa of the Chinese digital technology giant Huawei.

Delivering the keynote address at the UB Foundation dinner in Gaborone on Friday, Mr Qingbao said his company would assist the institution and the country in the quest to move towards a knowledge economy.

“I note that under the leadership of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana proposed transforming from a resource-based economy to an innovative knowledge-based economy, and we believe that in all technological innovations, the most important factor is talent, a decisive factor in success,” Mr Qingbao said.

He said that based on that belief, Huawei had a series of programmes to help young people master new technologies and empower them to be in a position to benefit from better opportunities.

Mr Qingbao announced the donation of a telecommunication outdoor training facility at a cost of over P1.5 million to UB, and said the facility would give UB undergraduate students more access to the latest digital technologies improving their competencies before they join the job market.

“There is also the Huawei Authorised Information and Network Academy, a global ICT education programme built around the world to provide universities with training and learning solutions to meet the requirements of the ICT industry,” Mr Qingbao said.

He revealed that five Botswana institutions of higher learning- UB, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Botswana Accountancy College, Botswana Open University and Botho University would benefit from this programme.

Giving remarks, UB vice chancellor, Professor David Norris thanked Huawei and the private sector corporate bodies that funded the UB dinner, whose proceeds are used to finance post-graduate scholarships for Batswana students. “UB achieves provision of scholarships through the UB Foundation fundraising activities such as this one. The scholarships target high performing graduate students at UB,” Professor Norris said. American motivational speaker, comedian and television personality, Mr Steve Harvey, urged business leaders to help the government to invest in developing the country’s mass media industry.

He said the Mass Media Complex needed to be upgraded, and he committed to bringing other industry experts from the US in order to assist Botswana develop a strong film, television and radio industry of an international standard that would generate jobs.

Mr Harvey further praised President Masisi for being a good leader who even in private expresses concern for the development of the country. ENDS