The Past—the Founding of ESME

On April 7, 1995 (Miazia 29, 1998 E.C) one hundred and thirty nine young and old, enthusiastic and vigorous Ethiopian Mechanical Engineers of different educational levels and work experiences got together at Akaki Spare parts and Hand Tools Share Company to establish Ethiopian Society of Mechanical Engineers (ESME). As the author of this news who was, then, chairman of the Election Committee Members remember it, those days (April 7 and 8 , 1995) were historic days on which important events dealing with mechanical Engineering Profession had taken place.

It was on 8th April 1995 the acronym ESME was chosen from amongst many alternative nomenclatures coined and conjugated by the zealous mechanical engineers present at the noble founding conference. Today ESME is ten years eight months and seventeen days of age.

The Zealots—The Steering Committee

The conceptions of the formation of professional mechanical engineers that remained hibernating for many years in the hearts of the young prospective engineering students had to catch fire and burn wildly in spite of many personal, political; social and economic impediments of which one was lack of organization could not hinder, now the time ripped for the formation of Ethiopian Mechanical Engineering Society to be a reality.

Then came a day on which the visions of many young mechanical engineers had to create eleven zealous own members called themselves Steering Committee who got together, organizing themselves, spending their money and time co-coordinating public and private enterprises to raise funds, preparing Bulletin of Founding Conference, drafting the first constitution; stooped over discussion table for eight months to lay the foundation for the formation of the Ethiopian Mechanical Engineering Association . Those zealous members of the Steering Committee were:-

Dr. Ing. Abebayehu Assefa - Chairman
Dr. Ing. Demiss Alemu - Secretary
Ato Demrew Metaferia - Constitution Drafting Committee
Ato Gebrekiros Habtu - Constitution Drafting Committee
Ato Yiheyes Aseffa - Constitution Drafting Committee
Ato Bekele Bayissa - Conference Organizing Committee
Dr. Abiy Awoke - Conference Organizing Committee
Ato Agzew Admasu - Conference Organizing Committee
Ato Alemayehu Negash - Fund Raising Committee
Ato Tesfaye Teferi - Fund Raising Committee

What ignited and or prompted them and stirred their zeal can be read in their “Message” printed in the Bulletin as follows:

“Three decades have gone since the formation of the Ethiopian Association of Engineer and Architect (EAEA) and the first issue of the organ of the Association “ZEDE” Journal of Ethiopian Association of Engineers and Architects was published.
“ Browsing through some of the ZEDE’ publications we are confronted with high level quality of professionalism and the level of consciousness of the then engineers and architects. Does the same level of awareness and professionalism prevail? We assume this must be a question that crosses the minds of many engineers.
“… Mechanical Engineers have not come out in the limelight to demonstrate the importance of their profession nor of their contribution to development.
“ Present day technological developments seem to be overtaken by development in microelectronics.

The following statement stated by the committee is the most envious one quoted to envy you.

“It is worth highlighting that Mechanical Engineering in Ethiopia was and is a sidelined profession. Mechanical Engineers are merely caretaker of technologies developed and delivered by engineer of the developed nations. Innovative contribution of mechanical engineers is very minimal. Mechanical engineers are engaged neither in design and manufacture of capital goods nor in technology development. They are merely confined to maintenance of technologies bought which in most cases are old and obsolete.”

They leaped to outline the objective of the society to be formed as they vision it should be as follows:

“ Create a sound forum for the continued education of its members to meet the professional challenges of the ever changing technological environment”.

“Create the appropriate environment for innovative work.
“ Create a forum where professionalism challenged and proven.
“ Create means for public awareness of the importance and roll of mechanical engineering.
“ Develop a cadre of mechanical engineers who shall lead the way to the industrial development of our country.”

Finally, they concluded their message with sound warning of sole statement saying,“ Many challenges are lined (up) in front of us to give this society flesh and life, to give it the right shape and size and to attain the task set for it.”

It is the aim of this publication to aware the reading members to evaluate its society whether it has succeeded or failed to accomplish those tasks, then set for it.

After registration, openings and exchange of ideas and views completed on the first day of the meeting the assembly went to form Election Committee that executed the election process in the most democratic form at this historic event. Accordingly, nomination was started and votes were cast to elect the first historic executives to the office of the Society.

The nominations were conducted in five rounds. The first four rounds were the nominations of three individuals to the office of the President, Vice President, the Secretary and the Financial Controller of which, of course, one and only one was voted for; the second fifth round was the nominations of the three members and the two auditors. Five individuals were nominated out of which three were voted for executive membership and two nominees were nominated out of which two fellow engineers were voted for to audit the property of the society. Each nominee campaigned to the best of his ability by narrating his life history from birth to the Election Day for the position. Voting was confidential and cast by writing the name of the candidate preferred out of the given nominees. Counting was done immediately, And the total result of the election was as follows:-

Dr. Tesfaye Dama was elected President by 74/132
Ato Yiheyes Aseffa was elected Vice President by 81/138
Ato Demrew Metaferia was elected Secretary by 114/133
Ato Alemayehu Negash was elected Financial Controller by 71/133
Ato Gebrekiros Habtu was elected Member by 79/139
Dr. Ing. Abebayehu Aseffa was elected Member by 78/139
Dr. Ing Demiss Alemu was elected Member by 92/139
Ato Mulugeta Adamu was elected Auditor by 75/139
Ato Shoaferaw Girma was elected Auditor by 73/139

Perhaps, it was the most regular election ever held free from bias and prejudice. Having been accompanied with prolonged applauded enthusiastic clapping on calling the name of each winner from the first person to the last, the first Executive Committee took over the office from the exiting chairman of the Election Committee thereby stepping in to face the challenges impeded mechanical engineering profession for years.