The closing and awards ceremony of the Huawei ICT Competition 2025–2026 Global Final was held in Shenzhen, concluding the largest edition in the competition's history, with more than 220,000 university students and faculty members from over 2,000 tertiary institutions across more than 100 countries and regions participating.

Through intense competition across three major tracks — Practice, Innovation, and Programming — 18 outstanding teams from 8 countries were awarded the Grand Prize: China, Nigeria, Singapore, Algeria, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya and Dominican Republic. African nations accounted for a remarkable share of those top honors.

Teams from the University of Béjaïa and the Higher School of Computer Science SBA (Sidi Bel Abbès) of Algeria won in the Computing track, while the University of Batna 2 and the Higher National School of Computer Science Algiers claimed victory in the Cloud track.

Algerian teams also featured among the Grand Prize winners in the Network track, from the University of Science and Technology of Oran and the National Higher School of Telecommunications and ICT, cementing Algeria's reputation as a continental leader in ICT education.

Kenyan students won the Grand Prize — the highest honor at the Huawei ICT Competition 2025–2026 Global Final — marking the first time in the competition's 10-year history that Kenya has secured a Grand Prize, making it a significant moment for the country's ICT and innovation ecosystem.

Nigeria's Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) had a stunning night, claiming Grand Prizes in both the Innovation Competition and the Network track. On stage, an ABU team member declared with pride: "We are naturally ahead and never behind" — echoing the university's famous slogan.

The team's vice chancellor, Professor Ahmed Adam, was specially invited to present the award to the Nigerian delegation, a gesture that underscored the national significance of the achievement. Nigeria's Federal University of Technology Minna also featured across multiple prize categories during the ceremony.

Beyond the top three African performers, the continent's broader presence was undeniable throughout the ceremony.

Africa's collective performance at the 10th Huawei ICT Competition sent a powerful message to the global ICT industry. After progressing through national and regional rounds, 177 teams from 49 countries and regions advanced to the Global Final. African universities from Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, Ghana, Morocco, Uganda, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire were all represented — and many walked away with medals.

The event demonstrated that the continent's investment in ICT education is bearing real fruit, with African students now consistently competing and winning against the best in the world.