When thinking about the ingredients of a prospering society, there is one thing people get wrong – the thinking that a prospering society is a society where most people are good at math, you know, like the Singaporeans, or the Chinese. That’s not quite it. A society can still prosper even if they had only but a few mathematicians (like engineers), IF those engineers were properly recognized, appreciated, and rewarded. I suppose that’s what Safaricom is trying to do with the Safaricom Engineering Summit.

You see, recently Safaricom held a two-day summit forum for industry and other related stakeholders to showcase new technology and emerging trends while bringing together a community for Kenyan engineers. According to Safaricom, the summit, which is going to be an annual event, is informed by the fast-changing fintech landscape, emerging technology trends and the need for homegrown software engineering talent.

That makes the initiative by Safaricom commendable. The Safaricom engineering summit is a demonstration of Safaricom’s commitment to innovation and excellence, but also a reflection of its vision to transform Kenya into a prosperous society that nurtures, recognizes and rewards its engineering and academic talents.

The reason why Safaricom Engineering Summit may turn out the the game changer a country like Kenya actually needs is the fact that engineers, when properly recognized, turn out to be the people who have the potential to come up with solutions that can address the challenges and opportunities that the society face. They are the people who can create value and wealth for themselves and others. They are the people who can inspire and motivate others to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

Engineering and academic talents are among the most valuable assets that a society can have. They are the ones who can apply scientific knowledge and skills to design, develop, test and improve products, systems and services that can enhance the quality of life and well-being of the society. They are the ones who can generate new ideas and knowledge that can advance the frontiers of science and technology. They are the ones who can foster a culture of creativity and innovation that can drive social and economic development.

However, engineering and academic talents are not born, they are made. They need an enabling environment that can nurture their potential and talents. They need access to quality education and training that can equip them with the relevant knowledge and skills. They need exposure to diverse and challenging problems that can stimulate their curiosity and interest. They need mentorship and guidance from experienced and successful professionals who can share their insights and wisdom. They need opportunities and platforms to showcase their achievements and contributions. They need recognition and rewards that can motivate and encourage them to excel and grow.

By coming up with the annual engineering summit, Safaricom has put itself in the forefront of transforming Kenya into one such society. The summit is the first of its kind in the country. It brings together 300 innovators and disrupters from small businesses, large industry, academia and government realms in the software engineering field to explore the latest research, build connections, and spark innovation to meet Kenya’s future challenges.

The summit is a manifestation of Safaricom’s intention to ensure that about 70% to 80% of the technology it uses is built in-house. Indeed, the Safaricom app and M-PESA app were developed and continue to be improved by its internal teams. Therefore, to ensure sustainability and even achieve more milestones, Safaricom must create a training ground and grow a big community of software engineers. The summit is not only a platform for collaboration in terms of tapping into fresh talent, but also, an opportunity to showcase its technology capabilities on the global stage, making it a powerhouse for software engineering in the Silicon Savannah, not just as Safaricom but really as Kenya.

The summit also treated participants to a showcase of the country and Safaricom’s engineering practices and products, especially in Fintech, such as the Daraja API and other innovations from partners and sponsors. There were also quick networking sessions with opportunities to meet the who-is-who in the industry and coding challenges with prizes to be won.

The summit is a great example of how Safaricom is creating an enabling environment for engineering and academic talents in Kenya. It is providing them with quality education and training, exposure to diverse and challenging problems, mentorship and guidance from experienced and successful professionals, opportunities and platforms to showcase their achievements and contributions, and recognition and rewards that can motivate and encourage them to excel and grow.

However, Safaricom cannot do it alone. It needs more partners and collaborators who share its vision and mission. It needs more corporations, institutions, organizations and individuals who are willing to invest in and support engineering and academic talents in Kenya. It needs more stakeholders who are ready to create and sustain a vibrant community of tech enthusiasts who are willing to find real solutions to real challenges.

The government, in particular, has a crucial role to play in this regard. It is the government’s responsibility to provide a conducive policy and regulatory framework that can facilitate and promote the development and growth of engineering and academic talents in the country. It is the government’s duty to allocate adequate resources and incentives that can enhance the quality and accessibility of education and training for engineering and academic talents. It is the government’s obligation to protect and uphold the rights and interests of engineering and academic talents, especially in terms of intellectual property and fair compensation.

The government should therefore offer all the support it needs to offer to Safaricom and similar companies that are taking the lead in nurturing, recognizing and rewarding STEM oriented thinkers and achievers in Kenya. The government should also encourage and enable more public-private partnerships and collaborations that can leverage on the strengths and synergies of different actors and sectors in the engineering and academic fields.

The government should also recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of engineering and academic talents in the country. It should honor and appreciate them as national heroes and role models who are making a positive difference and impact in the society. It should inspire and empower them to continue pursuing their passions and goals, and to share their knowledge and skills with others.

Safaricom Engineering Summit is a step towards a prosperous society that nurtures, recognizes and rewards its engineering and academic talents. It is a commendable initiative that deserves recognition and support from all sectors of the society. It is a reflection of Safaricom’s commitment to innovation and excellence, and its vision to transform Kenya into a prosperous society.

However, Safaricom cannot do it alone. It needs more partners and collaborators who share its vision and mission. It needs more corporations, institutions, organizations and individuals who are willing to invest in and support engineering and academic talents in Kenya. It needs more stakeholders who are ready to create and sustain a vibrant community of tech enthusiasts who are willing to find real solutions to real challenges.

The government, in particular, has a crucial role to play in this regard. It should offer all the support it needs to offer to Safaricom and similar companies that are taking the lead in nurturing, recognizing and rewarding STEM oriented thinkers and achievers in Kenya. It should also encourage and enable more public-private partnerships and collaborations that can leverage on the strengths and synergies of different actors and sectors in the engineering and academic fields. It should also recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of engineering and academic talents in the country, and inspire and empower them to continue pursuing their passions and goals.

Safaricom Engineering Summit is a step towards a prosperous society, but it is not the final destination. It is a journey that requires the collective effort and commitment of all stakeholders in the society. It is a journey that we must all embark on and embrace, for the sake of our present and future generations.

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