ISLAMABAD, September 24 — The Ethiopian Embassy and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Thursday launched Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative at the university’s Islamabad campus, while moving toward broader cooperation in education, research and academic exchanges.
Ethiopian Ambassador Dr Oumer H. Oba and AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood formally launched the initiative by planting seedlings at the university, presenting the activity as a symbol of growing Pakistan-Ethiopia friendship and environmental cooperation.
During an interactive session with AIOU faculty, Ambassador Oba highlighted the Green Legacy Initiative’s role in addressing climate change, restoring forests, strengthening food security and supporting the transition toward a green economy.
The initiative, launched by Ethiopia in 2019, has developed into a major national environmental programme focused on afforestation, restoration of degraded land and climate resilience.
Beyond environmental cooperation, the Ethiopian envoy called for stronger institutional links between AIOU and educational institutions in Ethiopia.
He identified scientific and vocational education, joint research in agricultural sciences, and faculty and student exchange programmes as potential areas for collaboration.
Ambassador Oba also briefed participants on Ethiopia’s economy, demographic potential, culture and tourism sector, while highlighting what he described as an educational transformation underway in the country.
He urged academic institutions to play a greater role in strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Ethiopia through research, knowledge-sharing and people-to-people contacts.
AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood welcomed the proposal for deeper academic engagement and praised Ethiopia’s socio-economic development.
He reaffirmed AIOU’s willingness to expand educational cooperation with Ethiopian institutions and highlighted the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
The two sides agreed to build on the meeting by pursuing institutional linkages between AIOU and its counterparts in Ethiopia, potentially opening the way for joint research, academic exchanges and cooperation in specialised education.
The initiative also adds an environmental dimension to growing Pakistan-Ethiopia engagement, combining climate action with academic diplomacy and institutional cooperation.