African Nations Eager to Learn from Ethiopia's National ID Program: Director-General

Addis Ababa, May 23, 2025 (ENA) -- African countries have expressed a desire to learn from Ethiopia's National ID Program, a pioneering digital identity implementation built on indigenous knowledge, Yodahe Zemichael,  Executive Director of National ID Ethiopia said.

The ID4 Africa annual conference, a four-day successfully event which served as a pivotal platform for exchange, concluded on May 23, 2025.

According to Yodahe, the conference facilitated valuable discussions and showcases where various countries shared their experiences in digital identity and infrastructure development.

He added that Ethiopia's digital identity initiative, particularly its reliance on homegrown knowledge and technology, drew significant interest and commendation from many African nations.

Several African countries have formally requested technical and knowledge support from Ethiopia in the realm of digital identification.

Ethiopia, in turn, also benefited immensely from the experiences shared by the participating countries, the director-general stated.

Founder and Chairman of ID4 Africa, Joseph Atik, commented that the conference provided stakeholders with valuable insights into the successes of Africa's digital transition and the tasks that lie ahead.

There is a growing momentum in digital identity construction across Africa, he said, singling out Ethiopia for its better performance.

The founder acknowledged the Ethiopian government's efforts in developing various infrastructures, underscoring its commitment to digital transformation.

The ID4 Africa annual conference saw the participation of more than two thousand individuals from different countries, fostering a collaborative environment for advancing digital identity across the continent.