PM Hailemariam urges intellectuals to fulfill responsibility for national consensus

Addis Ababa, March 15, 2016 (FBC) –Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has urged intellectuals to do their parts in the efforts underway to create national consensus in Ethiopia.
Scholars are required to play an irreplaceable role to accelerate Ethiopia’s renaissance through conducting all-round studies and researches, he said.

The Premier was speaking here today while opening his discussion with intellectuals drawn from various government and private higher learning institutions.

Intellectuals are expected to play their role for the country to improve in the agriculture, manufacturing industry, quality of education and health service delivery and in tourism, Hailemariam told participants.

The government has already begun works to improve these sectors, he said, adding “if government’s efforts are not assisted by intellectuals’ research and popularization works, the country couldn’t achieve the growth target it planned to attain over the coming five years.”

Scholars in particular have the responsibility to play a big role in maintaining education quality and producing trained manpower as well as to prioritize adaptation than innovating technology and to focus on improving productivity, the Premier said.

More than 30 universities have been established across the country but the number is not sufficient compared to other countries in Africa and the globe, he added.

Regarding good governance, the Premier said the ongoing activities are bearing fruits. However, the government doesn’t believe that the required changes were achieved, he said.

According to the Premier, scholars need to properly fulfill their responsibility in the efforts being made to create a national consensus as the country hosts religious and ethnic diversity.

Agriculture remains Ethiopia’s economic engine over the coming five years, he said, urging them to contribute their share for the success of the plan.

PM Hailemariam briefed participants on policies of the government as well as responded to questions raised by intellectuals drawn from various government and private higher learning institutions.