The 14th edition of “About Ethiopia” panel discussion and photo exhibition, organized by the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Addis Ababa City Administration, were opened yesterday in the Ethiopian Science Museum and Meskel Square respectively.’
The program that marked the conclusion of the first chapter of “About Ethiopia” panel and exhibition edition and the beginning of the 2nd phase was organized under the theme ‘Addis Ababa: The Epitome of Ethiopia.’
In her opening speech, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie said that in the previous 13 editions of ‘About Ethiopia’ forums that the Ethiopian Press Agency carried out in 13 cities of 13 states across the country, the ideas raised in the forums were valuable and constructive. Effective dialogues carried out and promising feedback and suggestions that can be used as inputs for the National Dialogue Commission were obtained.
“The issue of Ethiopia is the concern of all Ethiopians; and these days more than ever before, talking, discussing, consulting and listening to one another is of critical importance. When we discuss and talk about our country, it allows us to know each other better. When we know each other well, we will create common understanding and build our country together which is a viable way to transcend our country, make it competitive and accelerate its prosperity,” the Mayor underscored.
Addis Ababa is the city of all and; it is a common home for all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. It is a land where all Ethiopians coexist respecting one another. With this in mind, and to ensure that Addis Ababa is an epitome of Ethiopia, currently various works are being done in Addis Ababa to build national consensus. Owing to this, the forum that is carried out under the theme ‘Addis Ababa: The Epitome of Ethiopia’ makes the panel discussion timely and more important, she remarked.
According to her, when we discuss Ethiopia, we should understand as it is a concern of every Ethiopian. And the forum holds ideas that will be input for the national dialogue.
Stating the reason that the forum is being held in the capital Addis Ababa because it is a symbol of Africa, Mayor Adanech said that works are ongoing on issues that can bring a national consensus.
As the mayor indicated, Addis Ababa is working to modernize itself and to fit its symbolic representation of Ethiopia. Likewise, its residents are striving to rise together.
“We have achieved a number of victories that can change the lives of several citizens by working hard and coordinating wealth, knowledge and resources. This success is a feat that is shared not only by the present generation; but also the one to come.”
To lift up the achievements, creating platforms where the generation can discuss, listen and reach consensus is important; and; Addis Ababa will support activities that are undertaken to promote ideas, dialogue and tolerance; and to facilitate that.
“At all the forums, any citizen can participate; anyone who has an idea can take part in ‘About Ethiopia’ forums and put forward suggestions that will be useful for us to fill the gaps and enhance our achievements.”
On behalf of the City Administration, the Mayor extended her gratitude to the Ethiopian Press Agency for initiating the program and organizing this forum, ‘About Ethiopia’.
Similarly, she tanked media houses, states’ and federal administrators at all level who contributed significantly for the success of the forums,
The forum titled ‘About Ethiopia’ will be a forum that Addis Ababa will be well portrayed and proved itself for being a version of Ethiopia. “Ethiopia transcends by winning,” she concluded.
EPA’s CEO Getnet Tadesse also reflected on the outcome of the past 13 editions. As he stated, during all the programs that were carried out in cities of 13 states, the cooperation and feedback the program received from the audiences were constructive.
Because the main target of all the programs were to further strengthen peoples’ social values, reinforce unity, discuss matters of common interest, identify challenges, and find a common solution for common problems thereby achieving national integration, the responses of forums’ participants as well as the local people who visited the photo exhibitions were fruitful.
The programs were much-admired by all officials, scholars and the public at large as timely and constructive, he added.
Finance State Minister Eyob Tekalegne (PhD) on his part said that, projects that are being carried out in Ethiopia aside from changing the image of the country; they are creating a new culture.
Presenting talking points at the forum, Eyob said that in Ethiopia, especially in the capital, quite a lot of impressive things have happened. Mainly, the success achieved following the homegrown economic reform can be taken as a showcase in this regard.
In the capital Addis Ababa, it is possible to feed 600 thousand people on a daily basis, provide school materials for students, renovate houses of the elderly and vulnerable section of the society and execute various mega projects.
Mentioning that those projects are bridges that connect our past, present and tomorrow’s history, Eyob said that since the projects cannot be built entirely by the government alone, Dine for Nation, Dine for Sheger and the like, mega projects have involved investors.
At the forum and photo exhibition, a number of photographs that have been taken by EPA’s photojournalists at different times and different occasions and portraying the progress of the capital Addis Ababa were exhibited.
Short documentary films that show the transformation paths that the capital Addis Ababa has gone through programs held in ‘About Ethiopia’ editions presented.
What is more, the changes Addis Ababa has seen over the past few years, activities done to change the lives of its people, especially the achievements of the City Administration in its people-oriented projects, and other achievements have also parts of the exhibition.
At the consultative forum, states’ administrators, Addis Ababa City Administration senior officials, Federal senior government officials, representatives of the business community, religious fathers, elders and invited guests took part.
The photo exhibition, which was opened at Meskel Square, remains open for residents of the city and the surrounding community until September 11, 2023, it was learnt.
BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD 5 SEPTEMBER 2023
