The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy arrived in Addis Ababa to an exciting welcome at the Bole International Airport accompanied by Coca-Cola and FIFA officials, as well as Juliano Belletti, a Brazillian football legend appointed by FIFA for the tour in Ethiopia.
The plane carrying the Trophy and the entourage touched down at Bole Airport at 10:45 am, making Ethiopia the first country in Africa to receive it in the African leg of the fifth FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour, which started in Dubai on May 12.
“This is a truly iconic moment, for Ethiopia and for Africa. This is the first stop in Africa on this Tropy Tour and therefore the first time the official FIFA World Trophy touches down on African soil for the 2022 global Trophy Tour that kicked off in Dubai on May 12th. Coca-Cola is thrilled to partner with FIFA to bring this moment to Ethiopia, and to offer our consumers, and football fans this exclusive opportunity to experience the real magic of the World Cup Trophy right here in Ethiopia,” said Ms Debra Mallowah, the Vice President Coca-Cola East & Central Africa Franchise.
Fans in Ethiopia will have an opportunity to experience the world’s most iconic football Trophy for two days during its sty in the country.
“We are indeed excited to welcome the original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy to Ethiopia, it has been many months of intense planning. The trophy will be here for two days and we hope to make the best memories with it. We have lined up exciting activities including entertainment and fun tomorrow at Mesqel Square where consumers will have a moment to view and take photos with the trophy” Said Daryl Wilson, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa-Ethiopia,.
From the airport, the Trophy was presented to President Sahle-Work Zewde at the National Palace in Addis Ababa.
The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off on May 12 in Dubai, and will visit 51 countries across various continents for the next six months leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ Tournament in Qatar late this year.
Ethiopia is one of only 9 countries in Africa that will get to enjoy this moment, this 2022 season. From Ethiopia, the Tophy will head to Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania on this first leg of its tour of Africa and then resume its second leg of the Tour in September 2022.
For the first time ever, the Trophy will visit all 32 qualifying nations of this year’s World Cup.
Fifa World Cup trophy touches down in Ethiopia
Tsion Befkadu
Name: Tsion Befkadu
Education: Degree in Construction Management
Company name: TH Chicken
Title: Founder
Founded in: 2020
What it does: Wholesale supplier of chicken
HQ: Addis Ababa around Atlas
Number of employees: 3
Startup Capital: 250,000 birr
Current capital: Growing
Reasons for starting the business: To fill the gap in the hotel industry
Biggest perk of ownership: Not giving up
Biggest strength: Patience
Biggest challenging: Being a woman
Plan: To start our own poultry farm
First career: Different companies on different sectors
Most interested in meeting: No one
Most admired person: My mother
Stress reducer: Praying
Favourite past time: Time with families and friends
Favourite book: Psychology books
Favourite destination: Arbaminch
Favourite automobile: Range Rover
Africa must digitalize to achieve the 4th industrial revolution
Africa must develop high computing capacity to achieve the 4th industrial revolution, said Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, Associate Provost and Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio.
The 4th industrial revolution, he noted, is an agenda for everyone as it will transform all sectors from education to technology and health.
Prof Zeleza was the key speaker at this year’s ECA Annual Adebayo Adedeji Lecture session at the 54th Africa’s Conference of Ministers of Finance, Economic Planning and Development (CoM2022) in Dakar, Senegal.
“Africa was marginalized in the previous three industrial revolutions and the continent should ensure it’s not left behind in the fourth industrial revolution,” said Prof Zeleza.
The 2022 Adebayo Adedeji Lecture was held on the theme: “The role of higher education and human capital development in Africa.
“Africa must promote digitalization, rethink capital expenditure, and develop holistic online curriculum system to achieve its economic, digital transformation. We must walk the talk on constructing integrated, inclusive, innovative and sustainable developmental institutions,” said Prof Zeleza.
Celebrating Africa Day
By Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye
Today, we celebrate Africa Day with enthusiasm in the Continent and in Türkiye.
We remember with appreciation African nations coming together under a single roof on May 25th, 1963. This day signifies a tough journey for independence and freedom, and a common consciousness based on solidarity and unity of the Continent. The success story attained in the following decades in this spirit, through the efforts of powerful and acclaimed African Leaders, attests to the bright future of the Continent.
Despite the historical injustices during colonial times, global apathy towards natural disasters and famine, and unacceptable external interferences, the strength of African nations to withstand these enormous challenges is outstanding. With its young and dynamic population, vast resources, rich and deep-rooted culture and history, the African Continent promises enormous potential for a more just, more equitable and better world in the 21st Century. Africa means hope and we are partners in this journey.
Türkiye is in a privileged position. In the last 20 years, Türkiye has become an “African hub” in its region with its ever-increasing number of African diplomatic representations along with its dynamic African diaspora comprised of students, business people and tourists. Our 44 Embassies in the Continent as well as 37 African Embassies in Ankara make Africa Day more meaningful for us.
African nations see us as a reliable partner and a close friend. It is a pleasure for us to host African interlocutors, often African leaders, in Ankara every month. President Erdoğan ranks first in terms of the number of visits to Africa.
Turkish Airlines, continues to reunite Africa with the rest of the world, and recovering from the effects of the pandemic, currently flies to 44 destinations in 35 African countries. The presence of African students in universities all over Türkiye is ever increasing, thanks to hundreds of Türkiye Scholarships granted annually. So far, Türkiye has granted over 15 thousand scholarships to African students.
As a strategic partner of the African Union (AU), we have jointly organized three Summits on Türkiye-Africa Partnership in 2008, 2014 and 2021. The Third Partnership Summit was held under the theme “Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity”, on 16-18 December 2021, in İstanbul, with participation of 38 African countries. We are now eagerly implementing the decisions approved at the Summit in close cooperation with all our African friends, in order to bring our relations with the Continent to a whole new and elevated level. We now aim to mutually benefit from our increased collaboration with the AU and African regional organizations in other international platforms such as the UN and the OIC.
Türkiye, also by hosting the UN Technology Bank is proud to be an important development partner for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals. African countries have much to benefit from the Bank’s services in building and enhancing their technology and innovation capacity.
Our shared vision in global issues also plays an important role in advancement of Türkiye-Africa relations. In this framework, Türkiye shares the same basic expectations for the global order long since advocated by African countries on effective multilateralism and structural reform of the UN. In this regard, historical injustices towards the Continent need to be addressed, including by enhancing representation of African countries at the UN Security Council.
It is a collective responsibility to work for maintaining a peaceful, stable and secure Africa. To this end, as a country that has long suffered from terrorism, we are committed to strengthen our cooperation with the AU to fight and eliminate all forms and manifestations of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization, as announced in the Third Summit Joint Declaration.
Our economic cooperation with African nations is ever increasing. By the end of 2021, our trade volume reached 34,5 billion Dollars, increasing almost seven-fold in the past two decades. The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation we signed with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat will further boost this volume. Our target, however, is beyond trade. Türkiye, has been and will be supporting its African friends in their quest for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development and prosperity based on equal partnership and mutual respect. Hence, we underscore our “win-win” principle on every occasion.
We applaud the robust and innovative policies and programmes introduced by the African Union to expedite the development of the Continent. Agenda 2063 is the flagship programme that can unleash the Continent’s potential and bring about hope and prosperity to all, which we wholeheartedly support. Our Government and official agencies have carried out efforts in line with the 2063 Agenda. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), through its 22 representatives across the Continent, and the National Disaster Relief Agency (AFAD), as well as the Turkish Red Crescent have spearheaded millions of Dollars-worth sustainable development projects and in-kind aid in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers serve in 7 African countries and Maarif Foundation continues to provide educational services in 25 African countries with 191 institutions.
Even during the most turbulent times, Türkiye continued to be in solidarity with the Continent. We supported our African friends during the pandemic including through vaccine donations.
Owing to our centuries-old historical, cultural and human relations, we will continue to be in unity and solidarity with African countries as strong partners.
Happy Africa Day to all!
