Habtamu Assefa

Ethiopian software engineer who revolutionized rural education through tech innovation

Habtamu Assefa (born 1989) is a visionary Ethiopian software engineer whose work has dramatically impacted education access in rural Africa. In 2015, he co-founded Udu Education, a tech platform that delivers STEM education through solar-powered tablets to over 500,000 students in remote Ethiopian villages. His BBC-documented initiative uses AI-driven adaptive learning algorithms tailored to local languages like Amharic and Oromo. Assefa's team developed a unique offline system to overcome connectivity issues, enabling students to continue learning during internet disruptions. His work has been recognized by UNESCO's 2020 Education Innovation Prize and inspired similar programs in Kenya and Uganda. A Harvard Kennedy School case study highlights how his 'Education-in-a-Box' system improved math proficiency by 73% in pilot schools. Assefa also mentors young coders through his Ethiopian Code Camp initiative, training over 2,000 students since 2018. His TED Talk 'Building Schools Without Walls' has garnered 2.3 million views, showcasing his vision for decentralized education systems.