Zubari Qureshi
The Embassy of Ethiopia on Tuesday celebrated the 128th Adwa Victory Day in a colourful and well-attended ceremony.
Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula to celebrate the day hosted a grand reception that reflected the rich colours and culture and the traditional warmth and hospitality of Ethiopia.
Senior parliamentarian and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori were among the guests of honour on the occasion.
Former Caretaker Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi, Dean of African countries Ambassador of Morocco Mohamed Karmoune, the Pakistani officials from different ministries and armed forces, Members of Parliament, diplomatic corps, business community, civil society, media, and above all Ethiopian Diaspora in Pakistan were among the noted guests who had turned up to greet Amb. Jemal Beker Abdula on the auspicious occasion.
National anthems of Ethiopia and Pakistan were played and a cake was also cut on the occasion.
Celebrated with a national zeal and fervor, the commemoration day featured multiple events including documentaries on history of the Adwa victory of Ethiopia against the then colonizers, Ethiopia’s role in laying the foundation of Pan-Africanism and its consistent diplomacy for promoting regional integration.
In his welcome address, Amb. Jemal Beker Abdula extended felicitations to the whole of Africa especially the people of Ethiopia on the occasion of 128th Adwa Victory Day commemorated under the theme of “Adwa Black People’s Victory.”
He expressed gratitude to the people of Pakistan for gracing the 128th anniversary of the Black People’s Victory in such a large number. He also briefed the participants on the historical role played by the Adwa battle in igniting movements for freedom, equality and liberty in the whole Africa and in other continents against colonization. On March 2, 1896, a united Ethiopia achieved the biggest victory in the battlefield against the invading forces which, indeed, changed the course of history, humanity, political and social narration at the global level, the ambassador noted. Adwa’s victory is an inspiration and spirit of Pan-Africanism that ignited anti-colonial movements all across the world, the ambassador remarked.
The Adwa victory also symbolized Ethiopian unity and pan-Africanism, he said while highlighting the major initiatives of the reformist Government of Ethiopia that further fostering regional integration in the region.
He said Ethiopia had built the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which would further promote regional integration through energy export and was already sharing its resources with the people of neighboring countries and would continue to do so.
The ambassador also spoke on the Green Legacy Initiative of Prime Minister Dr Abi Ahmed, which was another major initiative of the government to boost collaboration with regional countries in mitigating global issues like climate change and food insecurity. Under this initiative, some 32.5 billion seedlings of different fruits, plants, trees and animal feed were planted during the last four years under the Green Legacy campaign, he added.
