Addis Ababa University, in a colorful ceremony this year, has graduated a total of 8,142 students in different levels on July 12, 2014 at the Grand Millennium Hall. The graduates are 5,305 with first degree, 2,692 in second degrees and 145 PhD of which 11 are females and in total 27% of this year’s graduates are females.

Guest of Honor of the ceremony H.E. Ato Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minster of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has handed out degrees and awards and hooded PhD graduates.

Admasu Tsegaye (PhD), President of the Addis Ababa University has congratulated the graduates and all those behind their successes. He said Addis Ababa University will continue to be a leading actor in the provision of trained manpower to the country’s ever increasing demand and help the country’s overall growth. He further said Addis Ababa University is continuously increasing the number of graduate programs and enrollment capacity from time to time which will help the university to be hub of graduate studies.

This year’s total number of Masters and PhD graduates is a record high in the University’s history, reflecting the University’s recent focus on graduate programs. The number is attained perusal to the University Management’s strategic focus towards the expansion of graduate programs both in terms of student enrollment and program development in the past few years.

On the same occasion, in recognition of their valuable and limitless contributions to the country, Addis Ababa University has conferred Honorary Doctorate Degree on four individuals. First recipient is the world renowned Athlet Tirunesh Dibaba. The University conferred on her Honorary Doctoral Degree of Humane Letters honoris causa for her outstanding performances on different national and international track and field athletics competitions.

In recognition of the outstanding works of the distinguished Italian Scholar, Prof. Angelo Del Boca, who greatly acclaimed numerous published works carried out with exemplary objective meticulous research, the University has conferred on him the degree of Doctor of letters honoris causa.

Similarly, the University has conferred Degree of Humane Letters honoris causa and the degree of Doctor of Sciences honoris causa on Artist Tesfaye Abebe and Dr. Clare Pain respectively. Guest of Honor, H.E. Ato Hailemariam Desalegn has handed out the honorary degrees and awards and hooded the awardees.

Gold Medalists of this graduation are Dureti Siraj from College of Natural and Computational Sciences with CGPA of 3.91; Hana Deresh from College of Health Sciences with CGPA of 3.92; Lelna Nega from College of Education and Behavioral Studies with CGPA of 3.88; Etsubdink Sileshi from College of Business and Economics with CGPA of 3.96; Mintewab Afework from College of Law and Governance Studies with CGPA of 3.95; Dagmawit Abebe from College of Social Sciences with CGPA of 3.90; Wondafrash Abera from College of Humanities, Language Studies, Journalism and Communication with CGPA of 3.90; Chalachew Fereje from College of Performing and Visual Arts with CGPA of 3.63; Kidus Ayaleneh from Addis Ababa Institute of Technology with CGPA of 3.91 and Tesfa FentawAligaz from Ethiopian Institute of Architecture Building and City Construction with CGPA of 3.69.

The ceremony also has hosted the graduation of 70 Eritrean refugees with first and second degrees in different disciplines for the second time. The University Cultural Center, as usual has entertained the gathering and spiced the ceremony with the graduation marking iconic song, “Enkuan Des Yalachihu”.

Present on the ceremony with H.E Hailemariam Desalegn were, H.E. Ato Sheferaw Shigute, Minister, Ministry of Education, H.E. Ato Kassa Teklebirhan, Speaker of the House of Federations and Chairperson of the Governing Board of Addis Ababa University, Ministers, Diplomats, invited guests and the graduates’ families and beloved ones.

For those who couldn’t make it to the Hall, the ceremony was on air, live, on the National Television of Ethiopia.