By: Sintayhu Tamirat
Realizing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project after 13 years long regional threats and international pressures shows Ethiopia’s resilience and heroism says Dire Dawa University President, Ubah Adem (PhD).
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project has now been completed. And the government of Ethiopia has announced early July its inauguration will come after the rainy season.
Following this citizens are reacting on the realization of the country’s flagship project.
In accord with this, Dire Dawa University President, Ubah Adem (PhD) told EBC World that Ethiopia’s attainment of the GERD project after decade-long pressures symbolizes Ethiopians resilience and heroism.
“Ethiopia’s completion of our flagship project- GERD- after all the thirteen-year challenges, threats and external pressures symbolizes the resistance of Ethiopians to any external pressures and threats. So far we have been proud of and known for our resistance against colonial aggressors. And now we could show the world that gallantry is not only in battle field, but also with accomplishing such mega projects of multifaceted benefits.”
She also expressed her pride upon the national accomplishment. “As a member of this generation, I’m proud of realizing one of the world’s largest and Africa’s biggest hydropower Dam project. It’s a big victory.”
Mentioning the astounding ancestral legacies of Ethiopians, she said the GERD completion is an exemplary deed for the next generation, the president said.
“We have been standing in unison for the common cause of realizing GERD by purchasing bonds, participating in rallies to support the dam and against regional and global actions and movements against the dam. Our forefathers built Axum, Lalibella and the Jegol wall. And Ethiopians of this generation have built this colossal hydropower dam of big economic significance. And the next generation will also be encouraged by this achievement and will definitely rise up to put his own historic print.
Ubah (PhD) said the GERD apart from doubling the present power supply capacity of Ethiopia, will help attain other vital national goals. “The dam in fact has touristic value and adds to Ethiopia’s endeavors to attain food and nutrition self-sufficiency due to the vast fishery potential. This really will have bright future for Ethiopians and for meeting of Ethiopian prosperity.”
While the GERD completion has domestic socio-economic significance, it will have big implications for Ethiopia’s diplomacy globally, Ubah( PhD) said.
GERD’s significant power supply to the national grid brings a meaningful boost in the country’s industrialization, she said, associating it to the enormous opportunities for increased rates of university-industry linkage and practical sessions.
“The fact that the GERD’s significant power supply to the national grid brings a meaningful boost in the country’s industrialization would mean our students attending technology and industry disciplines will have ample opportunities to successfully accomplish their practical sessions in the upcoming industries as well. This meaningfully contributes to the quality of education in higher learning institutions. In addition, it also enables universities to generate a highly competitive force to the domestic and global labor market. It’ll highly increase the rate of employment to our graduates.”
Apart from the instructional process, GERD’s power supply to the national power grid will have huge impact to the research endeavors that rely on laboratories, the President Ubah Adem(PhD) noted.