Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized the significance of this program in a social media post, urging the youth to register, acquire skills, and obtain international certification.

“The 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative we launch today is a great opportunity… I call upon everyone to encourage the youth to register for the program, gain skills, and acquire international certification,” he stated.

This initiative stems from a proposal by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, originally presented at the 2017 World Economic Forum under the “One Million Arab Coders” program.

The aim is to provide basic digital literacy training to 5 million Ethiopian youth by 2026, with a particular focus on ensuring that at least 50% of the participants are young women.

The program will offer training in Programming, Data Science, and Android Kotlin Developer Fundamentals.

It will be integrated into the curricula of schools, TVET institutes, and other centers, particularly targeting rural areas.

Learners will receive support from mentors on a dedicated Community Platform, helping them overcome technical challenges throughout the 6-7 week course.

Successful participants will earn skill-based certifications.

Prime Minister Abiy highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, stating that the trained coders would “create innovative local solutions” and “become a beacon of hope for our continent.”

This joint effort between Ethiopia and the UAE aims to equip the Ethiopian youth with essential digital skills, fostering innovation and development across the nation.