Mootuu Ayyaanoo Secondary School: A Legacy of Education and Sacrifice
Legacy in Learning: World Food Prize Laureate Professor Gebisa Ejeta Honors Mother with New School in Hometown
EJERSA LAFO, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA – In a powerful tribute to maternal sacrifice and the roots of education, a newly constructed secondary school in the rural heartland of Ethiopia now bears the name of a mother whose vision changed a family’s destiny. The “Mootuu Ayyaanoo Secondary School,” named in honor of Professor Gebisa Ejeta’s late mother, was officially inaugurated in Ejersa Lafo, West Shewa Zone.
The state-of-the-art facility, built at a cost of over 60 million Ethiopian Birr, stands as a permanent monument to the enduring power of a parent’s belief in education. The school is equipped with modern classrooms, laboratories, and facilities designed to provide quality education for the community.
Professor Gebisa Ejeta, a globally renowned plant geneticist and 2009 World Food Prize Laureate, was born in the nearby village of Holonkomii in 1950. In numerous interviews, he has consistently credited his mother, Mootuu Ayyaanoo, as the foundational force behind his academic journey. He has recounted how she sold firewood and walked vast distances to markets to earn the funds necessary for his early schooling, instilling in him the values of perseverance and the transformative power of knowledge.
“It is the deep wish of every child to honor their parents. We are profoundly moved and grateful that this school, a place of learning and future-building, carries our mother’s name,” said Professor Ejeta, reflecting on the inauguration. He and his family have long championed the critical importance of education for rural development.
The school’s inauguration is more than a local event; it is a symbolic closing of a circle. The boy who walked dusty paths from Holonkomii, propelled by his mother’s sacrifices, has become a world-leading scientist whose work on drought-tolerant sorghum has improved food security for millions. Now, his legacy ensures that children from his homeland will walk into a modern school bearing the very name that set him on his path.
“For us, this is the fulfillment of a long-held hope,” said a community elder during the celebrations. “Professor Gebisa has not forgotten his home. This modern, clean, and high-standard school is a gift that will change generations. We are overjoyed.”
Local residents expressed immense pride and gratitude, highlighting that the “Mootuu Ayyaanoo Secondary School” is a beacon of inspiration. It serves as a constant reminder that from the humblest beginnings—fueled by love, sacrifice, and education—global leaders can emerge.
The naming elegantly weaves together personal history and national progress. It honors a mother’s silent labor while investing directly in Ethiopia’s most vital resource: the educated mind of its youth. As students begin their studies within its walls, they will learn not only from textbooks but from the story embedded in the school’s very name—a story of unwavering belief and the seeds of greatness sown by a mother’s hands.
Burtukan Mideksa’s Memoir: A Political Odyssey
FEATURE NEWS
The Return: Burtukan Mideksa’s Memoir Set to Unveil Decades of Political Journey
ADDIS ABABA – One of Ethiopia’s most resilient and influential political figures is set to share her remarkable story in a keenly anticipated autobiography. The life memoir of Burtukan Mideksa, titled “መመለስ” (The Return / The Answer), is scheduled for release in the coming days, promising an intimate account of three turbulent decades at the heart of the nation’s politics.
A symbol of strength for many, especially women and youth, Burtukan—often affectionately called “Birtu Kan” (The Strong One) by her admirers—has navigated a journey few can match. Her forthcoming book chronicles a path that has spanned from the judiciary to political leadership, from exile to the helm of the National Election Board.
A Title with Dual Meaning
The choice of the single-word title “መመለስ” is profoundly evocative. It is a word loaded with dual significance in Amharic, reflecting the dual arcs of her narrative. It can be read as “The Return”—signifying her physical and political comeback to Ethiopia and to the public stage. Simultaneously, it resonates as “The Answer”—suggesting her response to long-standing questions about her role, her struggles, and the nation’s transformative journey. In either interpretation, the title promises a compelling and revealing narrative.
Charting a Nation’s Journey Through One Life
The memoir is expected to trace her unique passage through Ethiopia’s modern history. From her early career as a judge and her bold stance for judicial independence, to her political activism, subsequent imprisonment, and years in exile, Burtukan’s life mirrors the nation’s own struggles with democracy, justice, and change.
Her later return to Ethiopia and her historic appointment as the first woman chairperson of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) marked a pivotal chapter, placing her at the center of the country’s most consequential democratic exercises. The book is anticipated to provide an insider’s perspective on these critical moments, detailing both the triumphs and profound challenges faced along the way.
Highly Anticipated by Scholars and Public Alike
The announcement has generated significant excitement among political analysts, historians, and the general public. Many hope the memoir will shed new light on untold stories, private reflections, and the inner workings of Ethiopia’s political evolution over the last 30 years. It is viewed not just as a personal history, but as a vital primary source for understanding contemporary Ethiopia.
A High-Profile Launch
Plans are underway for a high-profile official book launch ceremony this month. Arts TV has been named as the exclusive media partner for the event, ensuring comprehensive coverage and bringing the proceedings to millions of viewers across the nation and the diaspora.
Burtukan Mideksa’s “መመለስ” arrives at a critical juncture, offering a deeply personal lens on Ethiopia’s ongoing quest for stability and democracy. It is poised to be one of the most significant political memoirs of the year, providing answers, prompting reflection, and celebrating the return of a formidable voice to the literary and public sphere.
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