Safaricom Ethiopia partners ITU to mark Girls in ICT Day 2026 in Addis Ababa
Date: 2026-04-23
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Safaricom
Ethiopia has partnered with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to
celebrate Girls in ICT Day 2026, held at the African Union Headquarters in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event convened policymakers, industry leaders,
mentors, and young women under the global theme, “AI for Development: Girls
Shaping the Digital Future.”
The
celebration focused on the role of artificial intelligence in advancing
inclusive development across Africa, while encouraging greater participation of
young women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Senior leadership from Safaricom Ethiopia participated in the event, including Chief Executive Officer Wim Vanhelleputte, Chief Technology and IT Officer Aatif Jamal, and Chief External Affairs Officer Dr Andualem Admassie. The executives reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting digital inclusion and empowering the next generation of female innovators.
A
key highlight of the event was the participation of Safaricom Ethiopia Big Data
Specialist Hawi Kebebew as a panelist. She shared a personal journey that
underscored the long-term impact of Girls in ICT initiatives. A decade ago, she
attended the same programme as a student, an experience that inspired her to
pursue software engineering. She has since joined Safaricom Ethiopia and
returned to the platform as a technology professional, illustrating the
transformative potential of sustained investment in girls’ digital education.
Girls
in ICT Day is a global initiative aimed at addressing the gender gap in digital
skills and inspiring young women to pursue careers in technology. This year’s
edition in Addis Ababa emphasized the growing importance of equipping girls
with AI and digital competencies as Africa accelerates its digital
transformation agenda.
Safaricom
Ethiopia reiterated that empowering girls with access to digital skills and
opportunities remains central to building a more inclusive and innovative
digital future for the continent.
