Addis Ababa University (AAU) scholars held a national level discussion, where president of the University attended, in commemoration of Nations and Nationalities Day, which is celebrated every year on ‘HIDAR 29’ in Ethiopia, at Nelson Mandela Hall on December 8, 2022.

The commemoration of this year’s Ethiopian Nations and Nationalities Day was celebrated with the theme: “National Unity for Ever Lasting Peace“.

Professor Tassew Weldehanna, President of AAU, in his opening address said that the Day has passed 17 years since the festival started to be celebrated on the scheduled day every year with various beautiful events and instructive themes as well as slogans.

The main purpose of the festival is to strengthen the spirit of equality and national unity in Ethiopia, the President sated.

According to Prof. Tassew, the research topics that the scholars presented to the panellists were national identities for peace building, federalism and peace in the national society and language issues in Ethiopia.

“This kind of culture of sitting around the table to discuss national issues should not be limited to national holidays, but having such discussions at any convenient time has a significant contributions to the security and the peace building process of our country,” he added.

Sisay Kinfe (PhD), from Centre for Federalism and Governance, in her presentation entitled: Federalism and peace building in the united national community, said that the concept of federalism includes many basic values that enable human beings to live together by harmonizing their personal and common issues.

Dr. Sisay stated that among the values that the concept of Federalism holds are: humanity, equality, freedom, justices as well as treating others’ issues as one’s own, tolerance, recognition and respect.

“A Federal system is a federal organization that ensures the organization of self-government on the land where nations and nationalities have settled to manage the federal communities and participated in common issues at the national level within the framework of a National Federal Government,” she asserted.

Yonas Birmeta (PhD), From School of Law, in his demonstration entitled: Nations and National Identity for Peace Building, said that having a union based on agreement and consent following a political structure that reflects diversity at the centre promoting the values of living together with respect and support are the principles of the Federal Government system.

Dr. Yonas explained that Ethiopia’s future should be based on the principles of the United Nations and Nationalities Federal System and that the system can handle the needs of all in a better way.

Reporter: Theodros Shewangizaw

Photographer: Andualem Aseffa

Editor: Abraham Girmay