An interesting PoD could be to introduce major water management earlier on. Ethiopia is fantastic terrain for thousands of small resevoirs, all of which could be used to store water, turn water mills (eventually - imagine using hydro-powered pumps and lifts in mines!) and in theory provide water to the lowlands so that they are more arable and useful.
Introducing terracing and water management could boost population, and lead to a hydraulic proto-revolution, which could form the industrial base for pulling a Meiji. You could go really far back and ask the Romans for help, less far and have some Byzantine Hydraulic experts flee to Ethiopia and fall into the/a kings favor, or have some come over from India.
Admittedly you have an Ethiopia that resembles an African Inca, but mastering their ample (compared to their neighbours) water supply, and Ethiopia becomes a powerhouse in its own right, if not industrialized, and then could just hire the experts sooner.