Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s plan to establish a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) University is hailed as a transformative step that could position the country as a continental leader in technology, innovation, and knowledge creation.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai, said Ethiopia’s AI ambitions align with the vision of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which prioritizes innovation and technological transformation.
According to him, successful models developed in Ethiopia could be scaled across the continent through AU platforms, enabling countries to adapt solutions to their own contexts.
“We would like to complement the vision of His Excellency the Prime Minister to come up with a dedicated Artificial Intelligence University,” the Ambassador said.
He also noted that the initiative reflects a collaborative approach, bringing together education, research, and innovation to deliver solutions which are accessible, affordable and acceptable to everyone.
Ambassador Rai underscored that Africa faces a significant shortage of AI-skilled professionals as highlighted by institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, UNCTAD, and UNDP.
“The way we see is that this university… will be a very important source of knowledge creation, and also creation of technologies that are people-centric,” he added.
Ethiopia’s large population creates a rare opportunity to implement AI-driven solutions at scale, according to the Ambassador.
“Implementation of the solutions at population scale is possible. That is a very important aspect in any AI-enabled services.”
For her part, Balsillie School of International Affairs Director, Professor Ann Fitz-Gerald, said that amid intensifying global competition and technological fragmentation, Ethiopia has an opportunity to take a leadership role within the African Union and regional blocs.
“I would say that Ethiopia should continue its work in setting standards and bringing a champion voice…to help build continental resilience,” she stated.
Ethiopia has already laid important groundwork for a competitive digital future, citing progress in sovereign cloud infrastructure, AI patents, and intellectual property protection, Professor Fitz-Gerald said.
Commenting about the planned AI university, she described it as a “super important” step that could anchor Ethiopia’s transition into a knowledge-based economy.
“It’s a whole new curriculum, whole new education,” she said, explaining that future systems will require integration of STEM disciplines with social sciences and humanities.
Professor Fitz-Gerald also emphasized the need to break down traditional academic silos and strengthen links between education, innovation, and commercialization.
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