Cairo: Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hendy, honored 10-year-old Martiros Mina for his exceptional achievements in programming and robotics, acknowledging his impressive rankings in both local and international competitions.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Martiros, a fourth-grade pupil, secured a gold medal in an international Python programming competition held in China, placing him among the world's top two percent of participants. Minister Hendy emphasized the significance of nurturing young talents, stating that such promising individuals are crucial national assets. The ministry is committed to supporting the youth in transforming their technological passions into innovations with global competitiveness.

The minister reiterated the importance of creating an environment conducive to the development of digital skills among children and young people. Such initiatives aim to prepare a new generation of innovators capable of thriving in advanced technological fields. Martiros shared his journey, revealing how his interest in programming and robotics began at a young age. He constructed his first robot at just five and pursued programming studies at a specialized academy the following year.

By the age of seven, Martiros was already participating in local competitions, and from eight years old, he started competing internationally in countries like China, Estonia, and Romania, securing accolades and top positions. He showcased one of his notable inventions, a robot tour guide modeled after King Tutankhamun, designed to educate visitors about Egyptian antiquities at the Egyptian Museum.

In recognition of his talents, Minister Hendy allowed Martiros to join the Robotics and Embedded Systems track under the Digital Egypt Clubs initiative, despite his young age. Martiros will undergo a skills assessment to determine the appropriate training level for him. To further encourage his learning, the minister presented Martiros with a laptop and various robotics kits.

Hendy also highlighted the ministry's ongoing efforts to develop children's technological skills through initiatives like the Digital Egypt Buds and Digital Egypt Cubs, which offer specialized training for different age groups. The ceremony was attended by Hoda Baraka, an adviser for technological skills development, and Martiros's parents.

Martiros's acceptance into the Cubs initiative is noteworthy, as it typically admits students aged 12-17, while he is still in the fourth grade. This initiative offers advanced tracks in areas such as robotics, web development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital arts. Launched in the 2022/2023 academic year, the program began with a $25 million budget and partnerships with major technology firms.

Since inception, the Marvels and Cubs initiatives have trained approximately 240,000 pupils nationwide, with significant numbers participating in 2025 alone. The marvels program trained around 70,000 primary-school pupils, while 62,000 preparatory and secondary-school students engaged in the Cubs program.