Achievements of the Class of 1985
Over the past four decades, members of our class have served Ethiopia and the global community as agriculturalists, researchers, scholars, leaders, entrepreneurs and public servants. This page collects those contributions, organized by field. Source: Welcoming Speech for the 40th Anniversary Celebration. Dr. Kejela Gemtessa, January 17, 2026.
Achievement News of 2026
Kejela, Managing Director of WABEKBON Consult, stunned his classmates with his second PhD degree in Agricultural Economics (the first being PhD in Development Economics, II Cambodian University of Technology, January 2025), from the University of South Africa (UNISA) on June 26, 2026. What did classmates say?
Among lots of hearty congratulations, here are some selected reactions:
Tamirat said:
Congratulation! Dr Kejela. YOU DID IT COURAGEOULY! This is an incredible achievement earned through a lifelong learning, perseverance, and dedication. A great journey that will inspire your family, friends and relatives who are near and afar.
Mulu said:
Dearest Dr. Kejela,
Warmest congratulations on earning your second PhD! Seeing the beautiful memories from your graduation in Pretoria fills me with immense pride. Four decades after our college graduation, you continue to redefine what is possible. Balancing a highly successful business in Ethiopia, leading our alumni batch with grace, and pursuing advanced scholarship is nothing short of extraordinary. You prove to me, and to everyone around you, that the quest for knowledge knows no age or limits. You are a true visionary, an inspiration, and a phenomenal role model. May God continue to bless you, your beautiful family, and all your thriving endeavors!
Ashebir said
Dear Kejela, huge congratulations on your second PhD! Your unwavering determination and grit are truly inspiring. Seeing what you have accomplished really made me reflect on my own journey. Honestly, if had known your story a few years ago after completing my second MSc in Statistics, it might have given me the push to shake off my laziness and chase a second PhD in Statistics! Your achievements show exactly what’s possible, and I am incredibly proud of you. Cheers to this remarkable milestone!
Jump to Kejela's Achievement Profile
Click to read the abstracts.
Agricultural Research & Extension
Members of the class made outstanding contributions in agricultural research and extension. Colleagues at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) developed and disseminated improved crop varieties — most notably new teff varieties — enabling farmers to double productivity and significantly improve livelihoods across the country.
More classmates to be added in this section. If you served in this area and would like to be listed, please contact us.
Governance & Political Leadership
Classmates who served Ethiopia in good governance and political leadership, rising to senior levels of responsibility and contributing to national development, institutional reform, and public service.
Mr. Beyene G.
Senior public-service leader, Ethiopia
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Mamaru Tsadiqu
Senior public-service leader, Ethiopia
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Degarege Seyum
Senior public-service leader, Ethiopia
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Academia — Professors in World-Renowned Universities
Distinguished scholars representing the class on the global academic stage, contributing to science, education and humanity at leading institutions across Europe, Africa and North America.
Prof. Zerihun Tadele
Group Leader, Crop Breeding & Genomics, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Prof. Yali Edessa
Professor & Department Head, Civil Engineering, Central University of Technology, South Africa
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Ass. Prof. Zelalem Eshete
Department of Mechanical Engineering, George Mason University, USA
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Ass. Prof. Daniel Fikresilassie
Mechanical Engineering, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
International Organizations
Classmates serving with distinction in major international research, development and inter-governmental organizations.
Dr. Melaku Ayele Gedil
Principal Scientist — Molecular Breeder, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria; guest lecturer at Nigerian and Ethiopian universities
Molecular Geneticist/Breeder, Marker-assisted breeding, Plant Bioinformatics.
Dr. Lema Gizachew
UN-FAO, Ethiopia and South Sudan
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Woldeyesus Senebo
African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, based in Kampala and Nairobi
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Mosisa Worku
Maize Seed System Specialist, CIMMYT Global Maize Program, Nairobi, Kenya
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Habtemariam Kassa
ILRI, Addis Ababa — served as Director and Project Coordinator
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Consultants & Entrepreneurs
Class members who built consultancy practices and enterprises serving Ethiopia and the broader region, creating employment and contributing to the GDP.
Dr. Kejela Gemtessa
Managing Director of WABEKBON Consult, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Agricultural Economics; Development Economics —
Mr. Teshome Afrasa
Consultant on national turnkey projects in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Uganda and South Sudan
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Alelign Kefyalew
Senior consultant, United States
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Elias Zerfu
Freelance consultant for international organizations
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Temam Ababulgu
Entrepreneur — agriculture and mining sectors
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
NGO Leadership
Classmates who have led international and national NGOs, engaging in civil-society leadership and community development, serving vulnerable communities with dedication and compassion.
Mr. Jemal Ahmed
Head of Africa Region, ActionAid International — Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Pakistan
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Dereje Adugna
International NGOs in Sudan, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Ms. Yewudar Hailu
Director, multiple international NGOs
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Bayush Tsegaye
Civil-society and community-development leadership
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Haftu Woldu
Civil-society and community-development leadership
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Zealbo Asfawosen
Civil-society and community-development leadership
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Gezahagn Alemu
Finland Embassy and JICA
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Banking & Finance
Classmates who built careers in the Ethiopian banking sector, preparing, appraising and financing business plans in agricultural and manufacturing industries.
Mr. Jemal Hassen
Banking and finance — Ethiopia
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Samuel Teshome
Banking and finance — Ethiopia
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Digital, AI & IT
Members of the class shaping the modern digital era, with contributions in Artificial Intelligence, information technology, biotechnology and digital transformation.
Dr. Mulu Ayele
Principal Scientist and Senior Consultant — Biotech, Agri and Pharma industries, USA
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Dr. Adugna Kebede
Advanced AI and IT — U.S. government institutions and leading private companies
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Asefa Chaka
Advanced AI and IT — U.S. government institutions and leading private companies
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Foreign Government Service
Classmates serving in departments of the United States Government and in Germany, demonstrating the global competitiveness, credibility and excellence of the Alemayans Class of 1985 in highly demanding public-service environments.
Mr. Asefa Teferi
United States Government
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Kebede Mengistu
United States Government
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Kedir Geremew
United States Government
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.
Mr. Abdi Hasen
United States Government
Bio coming soon — a short personal introduction will be added here.