New Delhi, August 10: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday congratulated the Ethiopian Women and Social Affairs Minister Ergogie Tesfaye upon her receiving of the ICCR Distinguished Alumni Award.
Minister of Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia received the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Distinguished Alumni Award in New Delhi (India) on Tuesday at Delhi University.
In a tweet, Jaishankar wrote, “Pleased to welcome Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye of Ethiopia back to India. Congratulate her on receiving the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Distinguished Alumni Award. She personifies the strengthening India-Ethiopia relationship.”
The award was to recognise her contribution in addressing issues related with HIV/AIDS, gender strategy, sexual reproductive health strategies and anti-sexual harassment policies in Ethiopia as well as for her instrumental involvement in organizing “Artificial Limb Fitment Camp” in 2019 in Addis Ababa under the India for humanity project.
Ergogie Tesfaye received the Distinguished Alumni Award which is given to ICCR’s alumni who have studied and completed a course in India under ICCR’s massive scholarship programme.
For the year 2021, Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister for Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia is one of the five Distinguished Alumni Awardees. Minister completed her PhD in Anthropology from Andhra University during 2013-2016 under ICCR Scholarship Programme.
Ergogie Tesfaye has been serving as Minister for Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia since October 2021. Prior to her present portfolio, she held the portfolio of Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from October 2018 to October 2021.
Before she was appointed as Minister, she held the position of Vice President (Research and Community Service) at Wachemo University, Director (Gender and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control) and Senate Secretary at St. Mary’s University, Addis Ababa. She also served as a lecturer at St. Mary’s University.
She has conducted research and produced documents especially, pertaining to Women, HIV, etc. She has been actively involved in addressing the issues related to HIV, Gender Strategy, Sexual Reproductive Health Strategies, Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies, etc.
On her India visit, She also met with Virendra Kumar, Indian Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and discusses mutual cooperation.
During bilateral meeting with the Indian Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ergogie expressed the long historical ties Ethiopia and India enjoyed for thousands of years that share many similarities in social and communal lives, and mentioned the historical migration of Ethiopians that settled to Gujarat and Indians migrated from Gujarat and settled in Ethiopia long time ago.
Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye also commended Indian government’s support in the education system of Ethiopia and all the continuous academic scholarship opportunities provided to Ethiopian students.
She expressed her gratitude to Indian government’s support in vaccine provision to Ethiopia and other African countries during the difficult time of COVID pandemic.
“I had a wonderful discussion with Hon’ble Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment of India, in New Delhi. We discussed how to work together. My heartfelt thanks to Hon’ble Dr Virendra Kumar for the warmest welcome,” she tweeted.
–Dr. M SHAHID SIDDIQUI ; Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
