Following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s public call for Ethiopia’s youth to join the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative and expand its reach to 7 million participants by the end of the rainy season, the Office of the Prime Minister hosted an experience-sharing program on the Initiative. The event brought together certified graduates, industry leaders, policymakers, and young professionals to share their experiences and insights, while contributing to the advancement of the Digital Ethiopia 2030 agenda through practical digital skills development.

The program opened with a tour of an exhibition on Artificial Intelligence, followed by a followed by a keynote from Billene Seyoum, Head of the Press Secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister, who framed youth technical capability as a vital national asset and reaffirmed the Prime Minister's call to reach 7 million coders this summer.

A panel discussion that ensured featured four speakers who shared their experiences and perspectives on the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative. The panel featured Dr. Abiyot Bayou, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Innovation and Technology; Bethlehem Dessie, CEO of gheero (ጊሮ); and Initiative alumni Azimeraw Taddese and Mahlet Seyoum, a tech entrepreneur. The panellists encouraged participants to continuously hone their skills, develop practical solutions, and contribute to growth and innovation within Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem.

The program concluded with an open networking session, during which young participants engaged the panellists with thoughtful and insightful questions. The exchange reaffirmed the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative’s role as a catalyst for developing digital talent and driving national transformation.