✨We had the opportunity to meet *Dr. Kebede Kassa Tsegaye, Coordinator of the IGAD Regional Program on Education, Science, and Innovation,* during the ESTI/IGAD Expert Meeting in Kampala. Our discussion was both timely and strategic—highlighting the urgent need for regionally coordinated efforts to equip the youth with future-proof skills in AI, innovation, and digital transformation. Uganda’s progress demonstrates what is possible with targeted national interventions. The next step is clear: *scaling these outcomes across all IGAD member states through structured partnerships and aligned policy frameworks.* The IGAD Regional Youth Policy and its implementation roadmap present a critical opportunity to catalyze innovation-led development at scale. As Otic Group, we recognize the responsibility and the moment—Africa cannot afford to wait. We are committed to working with IGAD and other regional actors to unlock this potential, now.