15th January, 2018
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Monday called on all Ethiopians to support the establishment of a Pan African Centre, which would tribute black people’s achievement.
Desalegn made the call during a nationwide conference that envisaged support for the establishment of Ethiopia’s Adwa Pan Africa University, which would signify the contribution of black people.
The Adwa Pan Africa University is named after the battle of Adwa held in 1896, in which Ethiopian forces scored victory against the colonial Italian force, marking the first black victory against a coloniser force in the African continent.
The Ethiopian government has allocated some 150 hectares of land for the construction of the Adwa Pan African University, which was previously recognised by the pan-African block, African Union in its cause.
Desalegn, speaking at the event in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, said that the Adwa Pan Africa University “will be a museum to show the glorious history of black people.’’
He also stressed his government’s special emphasis on the establishment of the university as it portrays a national and global reconciliation.
Desalegn also disclosed that the Ethiopian government has allocated close to 7.5 million U.S. dollars for the construction the university for this year.
The university, whose construction is scheduled to start within the coming two months period, would be constructed in Ethiopia’s Tigray regional state in the town of Adwa.
The university is expected to be a centre of excellence for black people.
The Ethiopian government also expects a global support for the construction of the pan African university as it signifies alliance among Africans.