Azeb Mesfin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Yitbe (talk | contribs) at 09:00, 30 April 2021 (Removed that againsts WP:5P2). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by her given name, Azeb, and not as Mesfin.
Azeb Mesfin Haile
አዜብ መስፍን ኃይሌ
The second First Lady of Ethiopia
In office
8 October 2001 – 20 August 2012
PresidentGirma Wolde-Giorgis
Prime MinisterMeles Zenawi
Personal details
Born (1966-12-21) December 21, 1966 (age 57)
Welkait, Ethiopia
NationalityEthiopia Ethiopian

Azeb Mesfin Haile[1](Ge'ez: አዜብ መስፍን ኃይሌ; born in 1966) is an Ethiopian politician and the second First Lady of Ethiopia who had in office from 8 October 2001 to 20 August 2012. Azeb is the widow of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.[2] She is the founder and patron of Ethiopia's National Initiative for Mental Health.[3] In early 2009, she was appointed CEO of the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray by its head Abadi Zemu. Azeb was the second First Lady of Ethiopia.[4]

Early life

Azeb was born in Wolqayt, Ethiopia[5] and raised in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan. She is from her peasant farmer father Mesfin Haile and mother Konjit Gola. Her grandfather, father of her mother, Gola Goshu was as an Italian Askari during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936). Following his action to the country, Gola was killed by Ethiopian patriots. By her early age, Azeb raised with her aunt Maniahlosh Gola who is the daughter of this "Fitawrari" who had this title by Italian invaders to mean commander of the vanguard; which was feudal era military title.[6]

Azeb was married to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi until his death in 2012. Together they had three children: Semhal, Marda and Senay Meles.

Career

She was elected in 2005 to the House of Peoples' Representatives (the lower House of the Ethiopian Parliament) representing her home woreda of Wolqayt and Humera, and serves as chair of its Social Affairs Standing Committee. Her role has at times been controversial, with some members of Ethiopia's diaspora alleging that, during the period in which she was an executive at the parastatal Mega Corporation, she was involved in "the impropriety of mingling public, private and party-owned businesses."[7]

However Azeb is also known for her work to teach rural Ethiopians about the issues of HIV/AIDS Her appearance at a special ceremony to honor the First Ladies of Africa for their efforts against the spread of HIV/AIDS held by Georgetown University of Washington DC on 15 January 2007 was met by protests of exiled Ethiopians."[8] The University was awarding its "John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award" to the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS for its leadership and service toward the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mesfin was to accept the award on behalf of the organization along with the first ladies of Zambia and Rwanda.

She started the organization "Ethiopian Coalition of Women against HIV/AIDS" and continues to work closely with community leaders to ensure the rights of women, fight harmful traditional practices and HIV/AIDS.[9] She said the award she received is not just for her organization but for the entire Ethiopian women declaring "the award is the result of the relentless struggle waged by Ethiopian women.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tigray" (PDF). House of Peoples' Representatives. Retrieved 9 October 2013. 6. Hon.W/ro Azeb Mesfin Haile[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ David Smith (30 March 2012). "Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi's death sparks fears of turmoil". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  3. ^ Azeb Mesfin Vice President of OAFLA Archived January 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "First Lady Makes it to EFFORT's Helm" Archived 2009-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Addis Fortune, published March 2009 (accessed 5 May 2010)
  5. ^ "Azeb Mesfin, MP and Widow of Meles Zenawi". Addis Fortune. Addis Ababa. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  6. ^ ECADF (6 December 2011). "Azeb Mesfin: The woman from Gadarif". Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  7. ^ Gelaw, Abebe, "The 'Queen of Mega' in Parliament Archived 2007-01-17 at the Wayback Machine," Ethiomedia, 24 January 2006. (accessed 30 September 2006)
  8. ^ Mays, Kate, "Group Objects to University Giving Award to 'First Lady', Protests Disrupt MLK Jr Commemoration Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine," Ethiomedia, 18 January 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  9. ^ Ethiopian Coalition of Women against HIV
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Azeb_Mesfin&oldid=1020653458"