Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has used his annual Christmas message to urge the country's youth to overcome "geographical imprisonment"and drive a new era of national prosperity.

Speaking as the country is on the eve of Genna(Ethiopian Christmas), PM Abiy said the current generation had been hardened by poverty but now possessed the tools to build a "ship of transition."He argued that Ethiopia's historical greatness would be "worthless"if the present generation failed to address modern challenges.

PM Abiy also warned against dwelling on the past, stating that "today"is the only bridge that can redeem yesterday's failures. He dismissed those seeking to "spoil"the nation's future through malice, instead quoting Victor Hugo to declare that Ethiopia's rise is now "an idea whose time has come"and cannot be stopped.