Season 10 of the Africa Tech Challenge (ATC), which was held in Nairobi from July 28 to August 29, 2025, has concluded, with 568 participants from 12 African countries showcasing incredible industry-relevant vocational skills.
The competitors — drawn from Kenya, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe — tested their skills in three broad categories: mobile application development, mechanical engineering, and computer numerical control (CNC) turning.
Themed “Dream and Invent Your Future”, ATC Season 10 helped the participating youth sharpen their technical and vocational skills, in a bid to prepare them for jobs of the future, as well as start their own ventures.
23-year-old Victor Njung’e, a mechanical engineering student at the Technical University of Kenya, clinched the top prize. He was full of praise of the programme, noting that he had gained so much in terms of computer-aided skills, while also learning about teamwork and building friendship across borders.
Njung’e, alongside five other wonners in the individual category, will receive a full scholarship to study in China.
“I’m eager to go to China and learn more, hoping to come back as a highly skilled engineer who gets the job done,” he told Xinhua News Agency.
“This training has been wonderful from day one. It was all about precision, broadening my horizons, and giving me experience for the job market,” Nuseno Alfred, 23, a winner from Ghana said. “I honed my skills in CNC turning, machine programming, and technical drawing.”
A game-changer for African youth
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who attended the closing ceremony on September 1, 2025, hailed the programme as a game-changer in equipping African youth with the necessary tools to thrive in the digital age.
“Through ATC, we are ensuring that Africa’s youth become a force for driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, pushing boundaries and pursuing excellence,” Ogamba said. “The program aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks to build a globally competitive, skilled, and innovative workforce.”
Li Qingtang, the executive vice president of Chinese firm AVIC Innovation Holding Limited (AVIC INNO) – which co-hosted the event, emphasised that the company has prioritised technical skill development for African youth, in line with its corporate social responsibility ethos.
On his part, Deputy Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Zhizhong, highlighted that vocational and technical training remains a key pillar of Sino-African cooperation.
“China has been working hand in hand with African nations to enhance technical and vocational educational systems,” Zhang said. “A skilled workforce is key to unlocking the continent’s industrial growth.”
Since its inception, the ATC has benefitted 1,933 participants from 14 African countries. Monetary prizes has also been awarded to 249 trainees, while 30 have studied in China courtesty of the programme.
