Ethiopia: Nation awards national medal to Derartu Tulu

By Tameru Regasa

Addis Ababa city administration nominated Ayat square as "Athlete Derartu Tulu square," as the Athlete has contributed a lot in flying high Ethiopian flag in international athletics competitions and becoming Ethiopian ambassador in various world arenas.

Presenting the recognition in the presence of higher government officials on Sunday , Oromia State president Shimalis Abdisa said that Derartu Tulu is the first African Female winner of 10,000 metre distance at Barcelona.

He stated that though Ethiopia has a lot of patriots who paid a lot in its history, such an industrious person has not been obtaining the required recognition and respect due to the burglary of history and other factors.

Expressing his hope to have many patriots in the future, Shimelis said that all citizens need to do their respective assignments to sustain the patriotism in the country through providing the necessary award and recognition like the recognition with which Derartu has been provided.

Addis Ababa City Deputy Mayor, Adanech Abebie on her part attested that Derartu is a model of patriot, arbitrator, plentiful and servant though getting such an invincible person is difficult.

She underscored that as magnifying the name of such people enable us to get another model, the city administration works hard to well acknowledge them.

To this end, Addis Ababa city administration nominated Ayat square as "Athlete Derartu Tulu square."

"I am very happy for the determination of city administration to name the square in the name of Derartu Tulu"

This article was originally published by the Ethiopian Herald. [Photo: File]