1.6 Million Ethiopians Enrolled in National Coders’ Training Program

Addis Ababa, July 18, 2025 (FMC) — The Ministry of Innovation and Technology has announced that 1.6 million Ethiopians are currently participating in the national #5-MillionCoders training initiative.

Launched in July 2024 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the program is designed to equip five million citizens with vital digital skills, including web programming, Android development, data science, and artificial intelligence.

Seyoum Mengesha, Chief Executive Officer for Digital Economy Development at the Ministry, emphasized that strengthening Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem is central to realizing the country’s Digital Ethiopia vision.

“Building a skilled workforce is at the core of this transformation,” Seyoum stated. “The Coders’ Training Program plays a critical role in enhancing digital competencies and accelerating the growth of Ethiopia’s digital economy.”

He noted that 1.6 million individuals are currently enrolled in the program, while 900,000 have already completed the training and earned certificates.

Seyoum also acknowledged the active participation of regional states and city administrations, calling the initiative a national priority. “Several regions have shown exemplary performance in mobilizing and supporting participants,” he added.

The program, he noted, is designed not only to build technical capacity but also to empower young people to transition from digital consumers to creators and innovators.

In closing, Seyoum encouraged students across the country to make productive use of their upcoming summer break by enrolling in training opportunities offered at schools and higher education institutions.