Bloomberg-Backed Training Seeks Boosting Financial Journalism


A new financial journalism training program expected to boost the country's emerging capital markets kicked off last week. The initiative, a partnership between Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA), Addis Abeba University, and Unity University, seeks to equip journalists with the tools to accurately and comprehensively report on the country's financial landscape. The seven-month training program is expected to start in September. It has been in the works for over a year following an invitation from the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) and offers a comprehensive curriculum covering financial reporting, data analysis, and economic policy. Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with support from the Ford Foundation and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the training is BMIA's signature program, developed to increase the pipeline of skilled financial journalists and analysts embracing a data-driven journalism culture across Africa. It was launched at Hyatt Regency, and saw the attendance of officials such as Hana Tehelku, director general of the Ethiopian Capital Markets Authority, and Aguil Deng senior program manager at Bloomberg LP. According to Christine Mwangi, secretariat director of Strathmore Business School, trainees will benefit from the expertise of business journalists and industry leaders, as well as hands-on experience with the Bloomberg Terminal while philanthropic partners are covering the tuition and program costs, ensuring accessibility.


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Parliament Reviews Bill Allowing Foreign Property Ownership

A draft proclamation that would allow foreigners to own or occupy immovable property in Ethiopia has been submitted to parliament by the Council of Ministers. Designed to attract foreign investment, the draft law plans to ensure that Ethiopian citizens retain their right to land ownership and use. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the draft was among six agenda items discussed and approved during the Council's regular session held on May 2, 2025. The proclamation is e...


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Speeding in the Spotlight as New Safety Drive Begins

The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, E...


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Askari Metals Secures Five Gold Licenses in Untapped Adola Belt

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia's Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. "The exploration areas—Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado, and Wayu Boda—lie near Ethiopia's top gold mines, including Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have produced over three million ounces of gold. The area is known for orogenic gold systems hosted...