In the Ethiopian history, the year 2019 can be taken as the best year that Ethiopians drawn from various professions grab the attention of the world. That is why the writer initiated to name 2019 as the year of Ethiopians.
In short, Ethiopians continue to outshine in the international stages winning prestigious awards for their contribution in making the world better. No doubt, numbers of Ethiopians are on the verge of mesmerizing the world qualifying for top position under various disciplines and capacities.
To begin with, the Ethiopian State Head Sahle Work-Zewde has been nominated as one of the Forbes 100 most power full woman list. Ethiopia’s new President, Sahle-Work Zewde, is ranked Number 97 on Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list, and she is the only African.
A seasoned diplomat and veteran of the United Nations, Sahle Work-Zewde was appointed with a unanimous vote by parliament after being nominated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Abiy Ahmed’s Nobel Peace Prize was also a grand achievement for his relentless contribution of ending the age of hostility and maintaining peace in one of the world’s most troubled region.
The world reacted for the win of the prize in applauding tones. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize has been ushered in by praise for his efforts in ending two decades of hostility with neighboring Eritrea and initiating broad domestic changes – but also calls to tackle outstanding challenges and further enhance reforms.
Domestically, the Prime Minister has introduced a series of sweeping political and economic adjustments, including granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinuing media censorship and dismissing several high-profile figures suspected to be guilty of corruption.
The other most prominent figure in the year was Tewolde Gebremariam, the man who leads the busiest airline in Africa. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has been recognized as ‘Airline Executive of the Year’at the annual Global Aviation Awards for Excellence organized by Centre for Aviation (CAPA) in Malta on 5th December 2019. Tewolde won the title for his commendable individual influence on the aviation industry, demonstrating outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction for the growth of Ethiopian Airlines and the aviation industry at large.
Athlete Derartu Tulu is the first African women to win Gold at the Olympics. And she is currently leading the Ethiopian Athletics Federation. Derartu won the 2019 Woman of the Year in recognition to her illustrious career and contribution to the athletics.
The other Ethiopian woman who changed the culture-stigma around women’s periods is Freweini Mebrhatu. In Ethiopia and other developing countries where menstruation is considered as taboo, disposable sentry products are so expensive which results in miss classes and school dropout.
The woman who suffered a lot at the time of her puberty due to the absence of sanitation products has come up with a reusable menstrual pad. CNN considered her Hero of the year for her life changing work.
In the 2019, more than 20 Ethiopians have won international prestigious prizes. Professor Mesfin Wolde –Mariam won the Defend Defenders Human Right Award of the year while Marata Gebeyehu nominated as a winner of the International Water Association Award.
Furthermore, the America Chemistry Community nominated Dr. Haregewoin Assefa as hero of chemistry. Again Dr. Yihune Dile and Dr. Abiyu Workelul won the Award of Food Agriculture Development Board of the year while Professor Atalay Alem won Harvard’s Psychiatry and Bio-Statistics Award.
Similarly, Dr. Aregay Girmay qualified as North Carolina’s Best Physician of the year where as Dr. Zebib Yenus took Leaders African Independent Researcher (FLAIR) Fellowship Award.
On the other hand the International Athletics Federation considered Solomon Barega as Best Athlete of the year while Artist Abush Zeleke took Star of A Generation Award and Melaku Belay took the years Visa for Music Award.
Moreover, Befekadu Hailu won International Writer of Courage Award while Henok Siyoum (Travel Journalist) won Hotel Show Africa’s/ MICE East Africa Forum and Expo Best Journalist of the Year.
These are some of Ethiopians who mesmerized the world doing outstanding performance by the year 2019.
The Ethiopian Herald December19, 2019
BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
