International Women’s Day (March 8) Marked with a Grand Celebration at Bahir Dar University.

International Women’s Day (March 8) was celebrated with great spirit at Bahir Dar University’s Wisdom hall under the theme “Give to Gain.” The day was marked for the 115th time globally and for the 50th time nationally under the slogan “50 Years of Women’s Voice for Equality and a Prosperous Ethiopia.”

The event was organized by the Directorate of Multi-disciplinary Affairs of Bahir Dar University, in collaboration with the Women, Youth and Social Affairs Bureau of the Ethiopian Women’s Union. It was attended by the State Minister of Labor and Skills, Nebia Mohammed, the Vice President of the Women’s Wing, Toiba Hassan, and the Deputy Mayor of Bahir Dar City, Ato Asmie Birilie, along with senior government officials, university researchers and scholars, students, and invited guests.

Bahir Dar University President Mengesha Ayene (PhD) delivered a congratulatory message. In his speech, he recalled the historical struggle and resilience of women. He noted that the holiday is not only a time to remember women’s struggles but also an occasion to celebrate the contribution of women’s voices to national transformation and historical renewal over the past 50 years. In particular, he highlighted the role of women by mentioning that 27 female sailors, trained and graduated for the first time in the university’s history, stand as examples of the spirit of the time and demonstrate women’s capabilities in practice. He emphasized, “When a woman works, a country works; the success of women is the success of the country.”

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Social Cluster, Honorable Mulunesh Dessie (PhD), who officially opened the program, stated that the holiday signifies special significance as it is celebrated a day after the victory that symbolizes the pride of Black people, Adwa. She emphasized that the bravery and wisdom demonstrated by Ethiopian women during the Battle of Adwa remain the foundation for advancing women’s rights and strengthening their political participation today. She also noted that the progress women have made in the political, economic, health, and educational sectors over the past 50 years is remarkable.

During the program, researchers presented papers for discussion . Dr. Mulugojjam Wondifraw, Director of the Directorate for Multi-Sectoral Affairs, and Ms. Seged Ashagre, a lecturer in the Department of Gender Education, presented an analytical discussion paper. In addition, Ms. Seble Zewdu, Head of Women, Children and Youth Social Affairs of the Bahir Dar City Administration, presented a paper exploring the 50-year journey of Ethiopian women and the historical background of March 8 International Women’s Day.

The program also featured a bread and cake-cutting ceremony by the guests of honor, performances of traditional songs by the Gish Abay Cultural Group, and a field visit to observe activities showcasing women’s achievements were held. A running race involving students from the University Sports Academy was also organized to commemorate the day.

Another highlight of the event was the presentation delivered by the State Minister of Labor and Skills, Nebia Mohammed, together with Toiba Hassan and Dr. Mulunesh Dessie, who shared reflections on women’s progress and scholarly contributions. Participants provided constructive comments and questions, which led to a wide-ranging discussion.

In her concluding remarks, State Minister Nebia Mohammed emphasized that a country’s development depends on its scholars. She called on all stakeholders to work together to build a prosperous Ethiopia by producing impactful research that benefits society and by utilizing indigenous knowledge, rather than allowing research outputs to remain unused on library shelves.