Nairobi will host the 10th edition of the Africa Tech Challenge (ATC) starting on Monday, July 28.
What the tech challenge entails
The ATC is expected to highlight the role of innovation in promoting industrialisation in Africa.
Principal Secretary of the State Department for TVET, Ministry of Education, Esther Thaara Muoria, said the ATC Season 10 is more about machines and measurements, about making history, realising dreams, and unleashing potential.
“The energy we see in these young competitors reflects the new Africa we are building—one that values skills, rewards innovation and is determined to lead in the global technology space,” said Muoria in a statement seen by TUKO.co.ke.
Twelve elite teams of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students from across the continent will compete in a four-week high-stakes competition to close the skills gap and accelerate Africa’s industrial growth.
Which countries will participate in Tech challenge?
Countries represented include Kenya, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
ATC Season 10 is described as a movement that has been making an impact for ten years.
The challenge shows how Africa's youth, fuelled by technical skills and a spirit of innovation, are helping to shape the continent’s fourth industrial revolution.
The initiative is linked to the African Union's Agenda 2063, which envisions a skills revolution supported by science, technology, and innovation.
The challenge is led by AVIC International Holding Corporation in partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Education and aims to equip African youth with cutting-edge engineering and technical skills that meet the demands of the continent’s industrial growth.
This year’s programme will promote slogans such as #EngineeringAfricaTogether, #BuiltToBuildAfrica, and #EmpowerTheMakers, reinforcing the continent’s growing influence in global innovation.
ATC benefits
Over the past decade, ATC has trained more than 1,300 young technicians and modernised vocational institutions across Africa by providing them with state-of-the-art industrial equipment and training resources. Many past participants have become leaders in engineering, both on the continent and globally.
Participants in Season 10 will undergo expert-led training in areas such as CNC turning, mechanical drawing, CAD software, and mobile app development—skills that are increasingly vital in today’s digitally integrated manufacturing landscape.
The challenge will culminate in a grand finale on August 24, where teams will present their prototypes and compete for top honours, including scholarships, industrial-grade technical equipment, and national recognition.
The Africa Tech Challenge continues to serve as a model of effective public-private partnership, combining corporate investment and government policy to bridge Africa’s technical skills gap and power the next generation of industrial leaders.
