The Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), in collaboration with a coalition of four public universities in Addis Ababa and the attendance of top officials of the Ministry and leaders of the universities, have officially launched the 2021 Green Legacy Initiative at Addis Ababa Entoto Park on June, 2021.

Mulu Nega (PhD), Deputy Minister of MoSHE, said that the Green planting trees project has been carried out under the initiative and leadership of the Prime Minister for the past few years and higher education institutions have been instrumental in this work.

“The theme of this year’s Green Legacy Planting Trees project is ‘Let’s Make Ethiopia Green’ and its purpose has great significance and message for higher education institutions and the community as a whole,” Mulu said.

Professor Tassew Weldehanna, President of Addis Ababa University (AAU), in his welcoming address said, “During the first Green Legacy Initiative program, we planted a lot of seedlings in one day and a great deal of work was done which enabled us to register our name on the world record.”

“We planted more than 4,500 seedlings in Gulele Sub-City last year, 87 percent of which has grown well. We have also planted a number of indigenous seedlings on various campuses of AAU,” Tassew said.

The Professor said, “The University has prepared 50,000 seedlings this year in a project named ‘A Multipurpose Indigenous Tree Nursery Establishment for Green Legacy’ in AAU’s own capacity and volunteers with the aim of contributing to the Green Initiative.”

Birhanemeskel Tenna (PhD), President of Kotebe Metropolitan University (KMU), said, “We will build our country together through escalating the Green Initiative and our universities are committed for this. We will continue the path of change together withstanding challenges that we have been facing so far.”

“As our country is a coffee-producing country, a large-scale tree planting is needed in all parts of the country to increase the supply of coffee to the foreign market. We need to intensify this planting campaign with the participation of the general public,” Birhanemeskel noted.

Dereje Engida (PhD), Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASU) President, on his part said that Today’s program is also a day for government universities to participate in green tree planting activities and for universities to form a joint forum.

Addis Ababa University (AAU), Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU), Kotebe Metropolitan University (KMU) and Ethiopian Technical University (ETU) attended the Green Legacy Planting Trees Initiative, “Let’s Make Ethiopia Green”.

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By: Theodros Shewangizaw

Photo: Fikremariam Beyene

Editor: Abraham Girmay