By Miwodew Muluye
Addis Ababa ( AMECO)- Government representatives, United Nations officials, and youth leaders gathered in Addis Ababa to commemorate International Youth Day, held under the theme “Young People Shaping Ethiopia’s Future Through Digital Innovation and Partnerships.”The event highlighted the imperative to empower young people as co-architects of policy, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth across Ethiopia and the broader African continent.
Ministry Reaffirms Commitment to Youth-Led Pathways
Opening the addresses, Adinew Abera, Representative from the Ethiopian Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, expressed deep appreciation to UNFPA, UNICEF, and the wider United Nations family for their steadfast partnership. “Your steadfast presence, unwavering commitment, and shared vision have consistently strengthened our efforts,” Adinew stated, emphasizing that the ministry is doing its utmost to nurture an empowered generation by actively building pathways for digital innovation, expanding opportunities for youth entrepreneurship, and fostering meaningful civic engagement. Adinew urged all participants to carry forward a spirit of unity, innovation, and shared ambition so that young Ethiopians can thrive and lead.
UNFPA Spotlights Digital Ecosystems and Youth Agency
Representing the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr. Taiwo Oluyomi underscored that while young people across Ethiopia face varied realities—ranging from climate shocks to economic and demographic pressures—their fundamental aspirations remain identical: to live in peace, with dignity, purpose, and meaningful opportunity.”Young people are not defined by the challenges around them; they are defining the solutions,” Oluyomi stated, highlighting the role of young digital entrepreneurs and climate leaders driving change.
Oluyomi showcased UNFPA’s flagship collaboration with UNAIDS and CORHA: the Abeba digital platform. Comprising a mobile application, an AI-powered chatbot, and an accessible website, Abeba provides confidential, accurate, and youth-friendly information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), life skills, and overall well-being. He also cited joint initiatives such as UNICEF’s U-Report, UNDP’s AI UniPod, as well as youth-led platforms like Youth Print, as models for building a safer, smarter digital ecosystem rooted in information integrity.
Looking ahead to Ethiopia’s 2030 digital policy roadmap, Oluyomi called on government counterparts, UN entities, and private sector partners to institutionalize youth participation: “Young people must not be viewed merely as consumers of technology or beneficiaries of aid. They must be full co-architects of policy and development.”
UN Assistant Secretary-General Urges Investor Backing and Scale
Adding a continental perspective, Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, called on investors and state institutions to provide concrete support to turn young people’s prototypes into market-ready enterprises. “Young people have big ideas. They need financing, mentorship, coaching, and people to help them take good ideas forward in a way that creates scale and impact,” Ojielo emphasized. “We are not talking about free money—we are talking about investors who believe in these young people and enter into equity arrangements so they can scale up and mass-produce for Africa and the rest of the world.”
Ojielo commended Ethiopia’s national initiatives—including digitization drives, AI integration, green legacy programs, and expanding industrial parks—positioning the country as a focal point for continental innovation. Noting that youth under 30 account for 65% to 70%+ of the population across most African nations, he urged governments to move beyond surface-level engagement to offer youth high-value opportunities, fulfillment, and fair remuneration.
Building a Resilient Future Together
The event concluded with a direct call to the young people in attendance to challenge the status quo, build peace, and demand spaces where their ideas can flourish. Highlighting alignments with Ethiopia’s national development priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework ( 2025–2030), and UNFPA’s 10th Country Programme, speakers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring policies are designed with young people, not just for them.
