Addis Ababa University, Department of Management, issued Executive Community Leadership Certificates in a graduation program held at Ghion Hotel on Saturday, 29 February 2020.
The Executive Community Leadership Program aims to hone CSOs higher and middle level executives’ mindset and mentor these managers to fully utilize their potential, improve their judgment and logical thinking to take complex decisions and responsibility. This double certification program, offered by AAU-Department of Management and JU-HLK of Sweden and funded by SIDA, purposes to equip trainees with individuals, teams, diversity, and conflict management and leadership skills that can trickle down to their staff and community down the line. Certificates were awarded for the second round and three more batches are expected to graduate in the coming years.
Alemu Mekonenn (PhD), dean for College of Business and Economics, in his welcoming speech elaborated the significance of the training and the progress of the College in teaching different disciplines up to the doctoral level.
Ms. Annika Jayawwardena, SIDA minster Counsellor, in her congratulatory remarks stated her pleasure to see the progress of this Leadership program with enhanced performance from year to year. She liked especially the pedagogy that was geared to adult learning and hoped that such practice will spread to other domains of the University. Mentioning the widening of space for Civil Society Organizations as the result of the new law, she challenged the graduates to grab the space created, practice the right based approach, promote human rights, stand for gender equality, exercise advocacy for the destitute, and spread the knowledge about the new law. She finally noted that follow up of the training participants will be done to assess its impact.
Workineh Kassa (PhD), Chair for the Department of Management (AAU), in his keynote speech expressed that the training will continue in other more rounds to develop management skills so as to create executive community leadership excellence in the country.
Different messages from the Advisory Board members of the program as well as from first and second round trainees were reflected. According to Wudasse Akalework (PhD), one among the graduates, arts of conflict handling and resolution methods gained from leadership skills are vitally important.
Mohammed Seid (PhD), coordinator of the Program, finally stated that as Ethiopia is transforming to a positive future, organizational leadership plays the central role in such a time. The Executive Community Leadership Program is believed to hone CSOs executives’ mindset and mentor these managers to fully utilize their potential, improve their judgment and logical thinking to take complex decisions and responsibility
By: Zelalem Moges
Photo by Fekeremariyam