Addis Chamber Debuts Institute of Directors

Jul 15 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

The first Institute of Directors set to work on the development of effective board leadership, organising certification and training programs giving consultancy and advisory services along with research advocacy and publication, was launched with the Addis Abeba Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Associations (AACCSA) last week. Mesenbet Shenkute, president of AACCSA, emphasised the importance of developing competent board directors for overall company profitability. A week-long knowledge and experience-sharing program preceded the launch event held at the Hilton Hotel on Menelik Avenue last week. Longer-tenured members of the Kenyan Institute of Directors (IoD Kenya)offered their reflections. They indicated that proper usage of resources would be attained in perfecting governance and value proposition. "As Ethiopia is the new kid in the town, Kenya will be happy to continue assisting," said Nelson Kuria (PhD), chairman of IoD Kenya. The first country in the continent to have an institute of directors was South Africa in 1960. The Vice Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), Solomon Desta expressed the value of having a competent board to attain shareholder objectives. A panel discussion unfolded during the event with Brook Taye (PhD) from the Ethiopian Capital Markets Authority and Hikmet Abdella from Accounting & Auditing Boards of Ethiopia, Meshack Joram from IoD Kenya as participants. Brook indicated that the IoD will help in fulfilling the Authority's investor protection mandate.


Radar

Deposit Insurance Fund Grows to 15.1B Br, Signals Readiness for Crisis Response

Two years into its operations, the Ethiopian Deposit Insurance Fund (EDIF) has grown its asset base to 15.1B Br, reinforcing its role as a critical backstop for depositors and financial institutions alike. The Fund, established under a proclamation by the Council of Ministers, was designed to shield depositors in the event of bank or microfinance collapses. Since its inception, EDIF has focused on collecting premiums from member institutions, investing the funds, and building a system robust...


Radar

Rockefellers 100m Dollars Leap into Regenerative Lunches

As part of the UNFSS+4 High-Level Convening, a thematic session titled "Nourishing the Future through Regenerative School Meals" was held on July 26, 2025, at the Sheraton Addis on Taitu St. It brought together prominent figures including Ethiopia's former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, former First Lady Roman Tesfaye, and Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto. Organised by the Rockefeller Foundation, the event focused on overhauling child nutrition through regenerative agriculture. Sarah Farl...


Radar

Hijra Bank Backs Young Innovators with Awards, Loans

Hijra Bank has awarded five young Ethiopian innovators in the final round of its “Sirara” Creative Spark Awards, selected from over 27,000 applicants. The programme targets practical innovations in agriculture, sustainability, and appropriate technology. Top winner Milkias Ahmed (PhD) received a 300,000 Br prize and a 3 million Br interest-free loan for developing an organic soil conditioner from animal bones. Second and third prizes went to Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Juhar for a crop-harvest...