PM Abiy Handover Nat’l Science, Technology, Innovation Award to Winners

Addis Ababa June 12/2019 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has handed over the national science, technology and innovation award to 194 winners today. Of the total winners 15 are women.
Some 1,887 persons including today’s awardees have received the science, technology and innovation award since its commencement in 2010.

After awarding the winners, Prime Minister Abiy said that innovators in all areas should leap towards creating new things that will bring socio-economic impact instead of looking for job.

“Starting up of an innovative idea demonstrates someone’s capability while accomplishing is bravery. Therefore, keep track of your innovative ideas until they turn unto bringing result for the community,” Abiy noted.

He urged the winners not to get neither gratified with their beginnings nor feel over proud of their accomplishment.

The Premier called upon all Ethiopians to join hands in the planting trees during this summer season to turn the negative energy of last year’s incident at the capital’s Meskel Square.

The government has launched a '40 trees for a person' project, aspiring to plant more than four billion trees across the country.

Innovation Minister, Getahun Mekuria on his part said Ethiopia will continue to award and encourage innovation and technology as it is the backbone of every sector.

“I believe that we can have Ethiopian Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Ma, and Steve Jobs if we are able to provide the necessary infrastructure like internet accessibility,” Getahun elaborated.

The award and the ICT expo in which over 180 industries took part are among the initiatives that the government has taken to encourage innovation and technology.

The ICT expo, Start up Ethiopia where 120 business projects assessed and awarded one million Birr, and the 17th Innovation Africa Digital summit are among the grand events of Innovate Ethiopia week.