Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that even projects initiated during peacetime can collapse when a country goes to war. Yet, he noted, Ethiopia completed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) despite facing numerous storms.

The Prime Minister stated that the dam's completion was achieved in the face of both natural and man-made challenges, a testament to the Ethiopian people's unwavering determination to realize their dream. He added that this success was a result of not only human effort but also divine intervention.

He noted that while Ethiopians have historically had their dreams thwarted by the collaboration of "foreigners and traitors," they are now showing a growing tendency to awaken and mature. He said they are also reducing their habit of expecting justice from the rest of the world.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this project is unique because it was like "resurrecting the dead," noting that the journey to fix a broken project and bring it to this level was filled with many trials. Therefore, he explained, the GERD holds special significance as a project that heroic Ethiopians brought to fruition with their sweat and blood.

He said the dam represents the breaking of a centuries-old yoke of poverty, and he had personally followed the project’s progress daily to ensure its success.

"My final prayer, my ultimate wish, was to harness the Abay (Blue Nile) completely and secure a place in history for Ethiopia," said Prime Minister Abiy, adding that he would not waver in the face of any challenge to achieve his goal.