University of Gondar Revokes Dr. Eleni Gebremahin’s Honorary Doctorates

On July 6, 2013 Dr. Eleni received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gondar, a first in its 59 year history. The University’s President, Prof. Mengesha Admassu noted that “On the occasion of its commencement ceremony and for the first time in its long history, the University Senate gladly decided to honor a prominent model of female might, Dr. Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin, by awarding her an Honorary Degree of Humane Letters (DHLitt) in appreciation of the socio-economic contributions she has made in establishing and effectively running the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) for the benefit of the Ethiopian farmers and the country at large.”

At a gathering of more than 10,000, Dr. Eleni received the degree in the presence of 4,562 graduates and their families in Gondar, a historical town in Northern Ethiopia, and called on the graduates to never forget that a committed individual can change the world, to always rely on integrity, and to harness the power of love of self, God, and country as they embarked on their lifelong journey of learning and achievement.

However we have come to see that the above person has not been such an upstanding citizen but quite the contrary. In recent events Dr. Eleni took part in a closed door meeting organized by the so-called International Center for Peace and Development that was unprofessional, biased, keeping to the views of one particular group, and inconsistent with the views of which the University of Gondar holds to. The unpatriotic views that were on display in the meeting she took part in has enraged the country and our University Community. It is because of these recent revelations and after careful deliberation that the University of Gondar has decided to revoke the Honorary Doctorates that was given to her (because of acts that are counter to the mission and vision of our Institution).

Accordingly, the University of Gondar Senate with the Higher Education Proclamation No. 1152/2011, Article 49, Sub-Article 4 and with University senate Article 6, Sub-Article 16 with the power vested in it on November 30, 2021 has announced (via our emergency meeting) the cancellation of Dr. Eleni Gebremedhin’s Honorary Degree of Humane Letters (DHLitt).