Roman Tesfaye ሮማን ተስፋዬ | |
|---|---|
 Roman in 2014 | |
| 3rd First Lady of Ethiopia | |
| In office 20 August 2012 – 2 April 2018 | |
| President | Girma Wolde-Giorgis Mulatu Teshome |
| Prime Minister | Hailemariam Desalegn |
| Preceded by | Azeb Mesfin |
| Succeeded by | Zinash Tayachew |
| Chairperson of Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa | |
| In office 25 July 2016 – 25 July 2017[1] | |
| Preceded by | Margaret Kenyatta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 April 1968 Gatcheno, Wolaita, Ethiopian Empire |
| Political party | Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement |
| Other political affiliations | Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front |
| Spouse | Hailemariam Dessalegn[2] |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Addis Ababa University Arba Minch University |
Roman Tesfaye Abneh (Amharic: ሮማን ተስፋዬ አብነህ; Wolaytta: Aabinee Tasfaayee Ooromaano; born 16 April 1968) is an Ethiopian politician and activist who was the third First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from September 2012 to February 2018. She is the wife of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. She holds two master's degrees in economics and leadership. Prior to her position as First Lady, she served in Arba Minch University in South Ethiopia Regional State, as a lecturer of Economics, economic advisor to South Region's administration, Federal level as the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, South Ethiopia as the administrator of Regional Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, Regional Secretariat for the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Preparation, and the Bureau of Plan and Economic Development.[3]
She has also previously held high level roles within the Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, and for two terms she has served as an active member of South Ethiopia Regional State Parliament. She focused her attention on building economic opportunities for Ethiopian women, addressing nutrition and education for youth, and promoting the global health initiative, Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon that combats cervical and breast cancer, the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in sub‐Saharan Africa.[4] [3]
First Lady Roman is an advocate of women's economic empowerment towards positive social transformation. Since establishing the office of the First Lady; which is the first in the country's history she worked at level intervention targeting skill development, to create an enabling environment as well as networking and facilitating access for women entrepreneurs to local and export markets.[3][5][6]
- ^ "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Hailemariam Desalegn's Biography". Durame News Online. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "HER EXCELLENCY ROMAN TESFAYE ABNEH – Center for Economic & Leadership Development". Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ "H.E. Roman Tesfaye". Concordia. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Former Ethiopian first lady partners with CFPA to promote the welfare of women and children in Ethiopia - Company News - China Foundation For Poverty Alleviation". en.cfpa.org.cn. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ Semonegna (16 January 2019). "First lady Roman Tesfaye, CFP promote the welfare of women & children". Semonegna Ethiopia. Retrieved 17 October 2020.