Ethiopian PM urges citizens to support establishment of pan African center

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Monday called on all Ethiopians to support the establishment of Ethiopia's pan African center, which will tribute black people's achievement.

Desalegn made the call during a nationwide conference that envisaged to support the establishment of Ethiopia's Adwa Pan Africa University, which will 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 colonizer 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 recognized by the pan-African block, African Union (AU) in its cause.

Desalegn, speaking at the event on Monday 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 200 million Ethiopian birr (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, will be constructed in Ethiopia's Tigray regional state in the town of Adwa.

The university is expected to be a center of excellence for black people, it was noted.

The Ethiopian government also expects a global support for the construction of the pan African university as it signifies alliance among Africans. Enditem