Roman Tesfaye

Roman Tesfaye
ሮማን ተስፋዬ
Roman in 2014
3rd First Lady of Ethiopia
In office
20 August 2012 – 2 April 2018
PresidentGirma Wolde-Giorgis
Mulatu Teshome
Prime MinisterHailemariam Desalegn
Preceded byAzeb Mesfin
Succeeded byZinash Tayachew
Chairperson of Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa
In office
25 July 2016 – 25 July 2017[1]
Preceded byMargaret Kenyatta
Personal details
Born (1968-04-16) 16 April 1968 (age 56)
Gatcheno, Wolaita, Ethiopian Empire
Political partySouthern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement
Other political
affiliations
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
SpouseHailemariam Dessalegn[2]
Children3
Alma materAddis 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]

  1. ^ "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Hailemariam Desalegn's Biography". Durame News Online. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "HER EXCELLENCY ROMAN TESFAYE ABNEH – Center for Economic & Leadership Development". Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. ^ "H.E. Roman Tesfaye". Concordia. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ Semonegna (16 January 2019). "First lady Roman Tesfaye, CFP promote the welfare of women & children". Semonegna Ethiopia. Retrieved 17 October 2020.