The newly formed National Digital Transformation Council, led by Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, held its inaugural meeting last week. This follows Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's (PhD) announcement establishing the council to oversee the implementation of "Digital Ethiopia 2025," the nation's digital transformation strategy. It brought together officials like Belete Molla, minister of Innovation & Technology; Firehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio telecom; and Tigist Hamid, head of Information Network Security Administration (INSA). The council discussed the overall progress of Ethiopia's digital transformation efforts focusing on monitoring the execution of national digital policies and strategies, along with evaluating the effectiveness of development measures. According to Tigist, the council is making headway in coordinating and implementing the long-term vision for digital transformation. Firehiwot said plans need to be refined to achieve the strategy goals. Ethio telecom, with its expanding reach (4G in 340 cities and a launched 5G network), and over 70 million subscribers, is playing a crucial role. Ethiopia's digital transformation strategy, launched in 2020, shows promise with skyrocketed internet access, exceeding 36 million users by 2023. It represents 35pc of the population with a mobile penetration rate exceeding 40 million accounts. However, as highlighted by the World Economic Forum, challenges remain. Bridging the digital skills gap, expanding infrastructure, and promoting digital literacy are crucial hurdles to overcome for a truly inclusive digital transformation.

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