Unisa celebrates twelfth graduation ceremony in Ethiopia

Unisa’s Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre marked a significant milestone in African academic collaboration, hosting a joyful graduation ceremony on 29 November 2025 at the Haile Grand Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

The event was a celebratory and festive occasion attended by academics, families, friends, and distinguished guests. During the ceremony, sixty-four students graduated. This further solidifies Unisa’s role as a pivotal force in human capital development across the continent.

The Class of 2025 demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, comprising fifty-eight doctoral degrees, alongside master’s and honours graduates. This brings the total number of graduates from the Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre since its inception to 1163, including a remarkable 629 PhDs and 382 master’s degrees.

The ceremony was presided over by Professor Puleng Lenka-Bula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, who was joined by the Registrar, vice-principals, executive deans, other members of the university management, and professors. The event was also graced by high-profile dignitaries, including current and former Ethiopian government officials, as well as representatives from the South African Embassy.

In her keynote address, Lenka-Bula highlighted the deep historical and diplomatic ties between South Africa and Ethiopia, specifically noting South Africa’s support for Ethiopia’s membership in the BRICS consortium. She reminded the graduates of their responsibility to contribute meaningfully to their nation's transformation, noting that many Unisa alumni are already serving in critical roles within the Ethiopian government and private sectors.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Dr Sem Daniel Abraham delivered a heartfelt address, describing the ceremony as a testament to South-South cooperation. "Our journey with Unisa has forged within us not just knowledge but also exceptional resilience, critical thinking, and self-mastery," Abraham stated. He urged his fellow graduates to act as architects of progress and to invest their intellectual capital strategically in the development of Ethiopia and the African continent.

Beyond Ethiopia, the Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre has expanded its footprint of support to students from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Somalia, providing them with admission guidance, ICT support, and library training.

The ceremony concluded with a call to action, echoing the sentiments of Nelson Mandela that “education is the most powerful weapon to change the world”. As these sixty-four graduates step into the next phase of their careers, they join a network of professionals serving in various sectors of the Ethiopian economy, continuing Unisa’s vision of shaping futures in the service of humanity.

* By Gelilawit Mekonnen (Student Advisor) and Meseret Tefera (Deputy Director), Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre, College of Graduate Studies