On a grim rainy Addis evening, I sat talking to a friend of my brother’s; he said, “this is my last trip to Ethiopia, I am done.” This surprising declaration comes from a young man that has been investing in Ethiopia for 10 years. This was his last stretch, exclaiming “Ethiopia has potential everyone can see but very few can touch.” He left Ethiopia once and for all.

Ethiopia’s population is estimated at 104 million, with 41pc under the age of 15. More than 28pc are aged 15 to 29. Youth unemployment is estimated at nearly 27 percent, according to the USAID Fact Sheet from 2017.

Aid agencies and the government attempt to curb the exodus of youth, but even with their massive resources, they have not been able to stop the far reach of brokers and traffickers. This is not a new tragedy. It is simply one we have not addressed efficiently. Ethiopians are still dying at sea in search of a better life and a meaningful purpose.

On one occasion, an acquaintance mentioned to me his plans to make an illegal journey through Libya. I was distraught at his decision, yet relieved that he was seeking advice before taking on this desperate journey. He mentioned the night school degree he had been working on and how he was not paid enough at his current job. He said, “I thought getting this degree was going to change things for me.”

Four years of night school and multiple self-help seminars later, he was still in the same position he had started and desperate for change. He was tired of being offered ways for a better life, which in fact did not pan out. With multiple ploys from family and friends, he stayed in Ethiopia and eventually found something to be passionate about. It was not always about the money but finding a sense of purpose.

The pragmatism of addressing unemployment with innovation is at a standstill, as internet shuts off and regulations breath in and out of parliament. We learn that it is no longer about merely getting degrees, and depending on the government or aid for solutions, it is about giving space to those who already have solutions at hand. As people leave Ethiopia legally or illegally, the big picture is that they are giving up.

Innovative ideas have tremendous potential to tackle our unemployment dilemma. With dynamic local initiatives like the Information and Communication Technology Expo displaying bold themes like Innovate Ethiopia, and Innovate Africa taking place in Addis Abeba, we see a pattern.

Beyond the technological understanding, innovation is the improvement of processes. While most implement innovative measures to maintain the cultural status quo, how about using those same tools to encourage change?