Addis Ababa: The former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen has been elected today as the first President of the Council of the Global Black Center.
The Global Black center (GBC)’s council convened its first meeting here in Addis Ababa and endorsed its organizational constitution that comprises 22 articles.
During the occasion, the Global Black Council’s first President Demeke said that Ethiopia being the symbol of freedom, beacon of prosperity, and land of origin deserves to host the GBC.
The president stated that it is a humbling responsibility for me and the leadership will take practical steps to operationalize the governing structure of the Global Black center.
It is appropriate that we are honoring our commitment to put in place a structure fit for such lofty goals of global importance, Demeke added.
‘I would like to highlight that the preservation and restoration of African heritage has been given the attention it deserves. Conflicts, lack of due care, and absen
ce of adequate digital technologies are robbing Africans of their heritage,’ he noted.
Acknowledging education as a key tool to the success of Global Black center’s goals, the former Deputy Prime Minister revealed that ‘we are fortunate that the center benefits from the active ownership and participation of high-level academicians.’
‘We should design training programs that could have a multiplier effect across Africa. History in Africa has been a controversial subject within and among countries. Educators must take the responsibility of converging African academicians toward an approach that will help Africans in the continent and the Diaspora,’ the president stressed.
Furthermore, Demeke hoped that the Global Black Center would emerge as a desirable platform to advance black history, culture, heritage and development.
To this end, the president stressed the need for holding an annual conference by bringing together scholars and other dignified personalities.
‘Therefore, we should organize a colorful Ann
ual Black Conference every year with the participation of many scholars, continental representatives, Head of Governments, International Organizations, dignified personalities and all others that share the purpose and objectives of our center in its Head Quarter, Ethiopia,’ he elaborated.
According to him, panel discussions, debates, exhibitions, art works and other pertinent matters will be entertained and exhibited in the Annual Black gathering it is anticipated thereby to be a globally flagged legacy of the GBC.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency