Adwa Victory At 130: Ethiopia Marks Historic Triumph And Women’s Day In Abuja

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Abuja hosted a colourful celebration on Saturday, March 7, 2026, to mark the 130th Anniversary of the Victory of Adwa alongside International Women’s Day.
The event, held under the themes “Adwa 130: From a Dark History to a Bright Horizon!” and “50 Years of Women’s Voice for Equality and Prosperity,” brought together Ethiopians living in Nigeria, people of Ethiopian origin, and Nigerian friends of Ethiopia.
Delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to Nigeria, H.E. Legesse Geremew Haile, described the Victory of Adwa as a historic milestone achieved through the collective sacrifice, unity, and determination of the Ethiopian people.
He emphasized that women played a crucial role in securing the historic victory over Italian forces in 1896, noting that their contributions remain a strong symbol of courage and patriotism.
The Ambassador also highlighted Ethiopia’s progress in promoting gender equality, stating that women are increasingly occupying leadership positions in government, parliament, and the cabinet at both federal and regional levels.
Encouraging the younger generation to uphold the “Spirit of Adwa,” Ambassador Legesse urged Ethiopians at home and in the diaspora to contribute actively to the country’s ongoing development efforts.
He outlined several key national initiatives, including modernizing the agricultural sector, where Ethiopia has recently emerged as Africa’s largest wheat producer, expanding industrial capacity through the “Ethiopia Tamirt” (Produce in Ethiopia) initiative, promoting tourism through the Gebeta projects, and advancing digital transformation through artificial intelligence to improve service delivery.
The Ambassador also addressed Ethiopia’s strategic economic goals, calling for unified support for the country’s pursuit of peaceful access to the sea, describing it as a vital national interest for a nation of over 130 million people with a rapidly growing economy.
According to him, Ethiopia remains committed to achieving this objective through peaceful and mutually beneficial diplomatic engagement.
Reaffirming the country’s long-term development vision, Ambassador Legesse said Ethiopia aims to become one of Africa’s five largest economies by 2035 and among the world’s top 20 economies by 2050. He therefore called on the Ethiopian diaspora to actively participate in the nation’s development initiatives and major projects.
The celebration also featured a presentation titled “The Trust of Adwa: Unity, Sovereignty, and Reconstruction,” which highlighted the historic significance of the Battle of Adwa fought on March 1, 1896. The presentation underscored how Ethiopia’s victory over the Italian army became a powerful symbol of African resistance, inspiring Pan-Africanism and anti-colonial movements across the continent and the diaspora.
Participants at the event described Adwa as a shared African victory, stressing that its legacy should continue to inspire present and future generations to work towards rebuilding their nations and strengthening the continent.
The programme was further enriched with patriotic poetry and educational video presentations performed by young children.
The ceremony began with the Ethiopian National Anthem and concluded with a ceremonial cake-cutting and reception attended by guests and members of the Ethiopian community in Nigeria.

Abuja: Fire Guts Section Of Federal Secretariat

Abuja: Fire guts section of federal secretariat. There was panic at the federal secretariat in Abuja on Monday morning after a section of the office of the head of service of the federation caught fire.

Eyewitnesses said the fire was first noticed at about 8:20am. Social media footage showed plumes of black smoke billowing from the affected section of the building.

The incident occurred at Section C of the building within the federal secretariat complex.

Staff members were seen evacuating the area after emergency responders had been alerted.

The media department of the office of the head of service confirmed the incident.

The office said the outbreak was limited to Section C of the building.

Fire Guts Section Of Federal Secretariat

Officials said emergency responders were already working to contain the fire.

“The fire outbreak is limited to Section C of the building and is currently being attended to by emergency officials,” the office said.

The cause of the fire had yet to be disclosed at the time of filing this report.

Abuja (FCT)
federal secretariat in Abuja
head of service office in Abuja.

Abuja NUJ Calls For Greater Support For Women Chairwoman Of The Council

Abuja NUJ calls for greater support for women Chairwoman of the council. Grace Ike, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration.

The Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT council, has urged stronger synergy between government and stakeholders to dismantle barriers hindering women’s participation and progress across sectors in Nigeria’s development.

Chairwoman of the council, Grace Ike, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration.

Ms Ike said empowering women produced far-reaching benefits, as inclusive newsrooms encouraged richer storytelling, strengthened governance, promoted fairness in representation, and helped build more equitable societies.

She noted that women in journalism continued to demonstrate resilience, professionalism and dedication to truth, despite challenges, contributing significantly to public service and the strengthening of democratic values.

According to her, female journalists are breaking new ground by covering difficult beats, shaping public discourse, mentoring younger colleagues and proving consistently that professional excellence knows no gender.

“Our celebration must go beyond recognition and translate into action by mentoring young female journalists, creating safe workplaces, providing leadership opportunities and ensuring women’s voices are heard.

“These are the investments that will yield the greatest returns for journalism and society. The United Nations theme, ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls’. reinforces collective responsibility.

“Governments, institutions, media organisations and communities must work together to dismantle barriers hindering women’s progress and ensure equal opportunities for women and girls everywhere,” stated Ms Ike.

Ms Ike said that as the first female chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, she stood on the shoulders of courageous women who broke barriers, challenged stereotypes and rejected limitations.

Abuja NUJ

She added that her leadership journey reflected what became possible when society deliberately provided women with opportunities to lead, contribute meaningfully and excel across professional fields.

“Let us recommit to giving more opportunities, support, mentorship and recognition to women because when women rise, journalism thrives, communities prosper, and our nation grows stronger,” she said.