AMN PLUS-August 13, 2026
Following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD) call for Ethiopian youth to join the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative and the national call to increase the number of participants to 7 million before the end of the rainy season, an experience-sharing program on the initiative was held under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office.
The event brought together sector leaders and policymakers, certified graduates of the initiative, and young professionals. By creating a platform for participants to share their experiences and perspectives, the program contributed to the advancement of the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy through practical digital skills development.
The program began with a tour of an exhibition focused on artificial intelligence, followed by an opening speech by Billene Seyoum, Head of the Press Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office.
In her remarks, she stated that young people’s technical and digital skills are a critical national asset and affirmed the implementation of the Prime Minister’s call to increase the number of coders to 7 million during this rainy season.
The subsequent panel discussion featured four experts who shared their experiences and perspectives on the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative. The panelists were Dr. Abiyote Bayu, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Innovation and Technology; Bethelehem Desse, Chief Executive Officer of Gheero; and initiative graduates Azmeraw Tadesse and technology entrepreneur Mahlet Seyoum.
The panelists encouraged participants and young people to continuously develop their skills, create practical solutions, and play their part in advancing innovation and the growth of Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem. Young participants also raised questions related to digital skills and received responses from the panelists, making the overall program a platform for open discussion and experience sharing.
The experience-sharing program once again reaffirmed the significant role of the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative in enhancing digital skills and accelerating national transformation.
By Leta Teresa
