Ethiopian varsity honours Obasanjo
President Olusegun Obasanjo was yesterday awarded an honorary doctorate degree of laws by Ethiopia’s University of Addis Ababa (UAA) in recognition of his contributions to the survival and development of the African continent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obasanjo was honoured degree along with the Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
Conferring the honorary degree, UAA president, Prof. Andrias Eshete said Obasanjos’s enormous contributions to Africa “offer a sterling example to other leaders of the continent.
“Your proven commitment to the creation of peace in your region, and now in our own region, shows how, with determination and fairness, Africans themselves can address their own problems”, said the citation on ObasanjoThe university also paid tribute to Obasanjo’s role in supporting the liberation of South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as the struggles in Angola and Mozambique.
“You were in the first rank of African leaders resolved to make Africans assume chief responsibility for their own fate”, the citation added.
Accepting the award, Obasanjo, in Ethiopia for the AU summit which ended today, said the recognition was the most rewarding acknowledgement that his preoccupation with the entrenchment of democracy and genuine economic development in Nigeria and Africa had made some impact.
“A politically stable Africa with a strong economy working for its own people is an indispensable requirement for global peace and prosperity,” he said.
He noted that the other regions of the world were yet to wake up to the continent’s demand to engage as partners, who have as much to give as it is prepared to take.
Obasanjo stressed the need to give young Africans the best education to equip them to compete in a world increasingly driven by knowledge and technology.
“Africa must teach its young about the proud and enviable history of Africa, teach them never to give up the struggle to salvage Africa and teach them the values of hard work, dedication and commitment to the common good”, Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo said Nigeria has made irreversible strides in its journey of democratic consolidation and economic regeneration which has resulted in the country’s average annual growth rate of eight per cent in the past three years.
He expressed confidence that Africa possesses a good number of visionary and courageous leaders who would continue the struggle after his exit.
Accepting his own award, Italian Prime Minister Prodi said globalisation was “unstoppable” and urged Africa not to be left behind in this process of change.
He said that Africa was a priority in Italy’s foreign policy, adding that the country would not forget the past even when it was looking to the future.
NAN reports the ceremony was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Beninoise President Boni Yayi.
President Obasanjo has since returned to Abuja after the ceremony.