Addis Ababa University College of Health Science hosted the launching program of Leadership Initiative for Young Faculty (LIYF) on August 28, 2017 at its main meeting hall.

Dawit Wondimagegn (Ph.D.), Chief Executive Director of the College of Health Science, stated in his welcoming speech that the college in collaboration with Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital has taught 8,000-9,000 students. He went on to explain that the college has around 109 undergraduate and post graduate programs and serves 320,000 out patients, 30,000 inpatients and 29,000 emergency patients annually. He mentioned that the college has about 3,000 staff members with around 85% of them under the age of 35. He said: “this indicates that most of our staffs are young.”

Dawit Wondimagegn (Ph.D.) said that the main reason for launching this one year program is to share the experience of the senior management team of the college and create the future energetic as well as committed young leaders with the intention of solving problems that the college faces and providing better service to our customers.

Kassa Tekeleberhan, Chairperson of the governing board of the Addis Ababa University, pointed out that Ethiopia is a country of youngsters. He then concluded that the country’s hope is in their hands. Therefore, we have a big responsibility to build their capacity and create responsible young leaders.

Abiy Seifu, one of the founders and coordinators of LIYF, stated that the Leadership Initiative for Young Faculty (LIYF) is initiated by the College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University with the aim of creating a passionate and competent pool of young leaders who have demonstrated transformative leadership and institutional ownership in the context of the College of Health Science of AAU.

The program is said to contribute towards filling the leadership gap in the college and University and prepare vibrant young leaders who can realize the University’s vision to become one of the top 10 Universities in Africa.

Prof Admasu Tsegaye, President of Addis Ababa University, for his part noted that the prospective young leaders have the responsibility of taking the college forward.

State Minister of Health, Amir Aman (Ph.D.), Deans and various dignitaries from different colleges attended the program.