MInT, JICA discuss ways of empowering over 1M youth with digital skills

Addis Ababa, January 31, 2024 (FBC) – The Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Safaricom Ethiopia, and Sumitomo Corporation engage in discussions regarding the collaborative prospects aimed at empowering upwards of 1,000,000 young individuals with digital skills.

It is asserted that 10,000 of these young Ethiopians will undergo short-term training, with the remaining cohort set to be equipped with empowerment in the foreseeable future.

During the discussion, Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Molla underscores that the project must be executed with particular emphasis on digital skills, fostering the creation of a functional system to cultivate the digital economy through the establishment of a digital ecosystem.

The minister emphasized that the cultivation of digital acumen constitutes the linchpin for fostering economic expansion within the nation. He praised the commendable endeavors being undertaken through collaborative efforts with JICA.

It is imperative to prioritize the realms of digital technology and collaborate synergistically to yield outcomes conducive to the enhancement of the national economy.

Yushi Nagano, the Head of JICA DXLab, has proclaimed his JICA’s intent to imbue digital proficiency in 10,000 youths across Ethiopia expeditiously, thereby empowering the subsequent multitude.

Mr. Nagano expounded that a collaborative deliberation will ensue to perpetuate these initiatives, culminating in the execution of a formal agreement. Consequently, projects shall be set in motion to expedite agricultural advancement through the incorporation of digital technology, thereby augmenting the productivity and income of farmers. Simultaneously, endeavors shall be undertaken to streamline the disbursement of financial resources to small-scale farmers.