From one of only three women to graduate in Civil Engineering in her class to a recognized trailblazer shaping infrastructure in Africa — Pr. Eng. Sophia Belete-Tekie returned to inspire the next generation of engineers.

On 20 February 2026, Pr. Eng. Sophia Belete-Tekie, a distinguished alumna of Addis Ababa University, returned to the Technology and Built Environment Campus at 5 Kilo to engage with 5th-year Civil Engineering students.

Now serving as Head of the Road Management System at the Roads Authority of Namibia, she shared reflections from her journey and her student years more than 35 years ago.

During her time at the university, over 1,000 students were admitted, with around 200 studying Civil Engineering. Only eight were women, and ultimately three graduated, including Pr. Eng. Sophia Belete-Tekie. The three women completed their final thesis together — a milestone for women in the faculty at the time.

Returning to campus brought back memories of long nights spent drawing with T-squares and drafting boards, often working until sunrise in an era before computers and digital tools.

Addressing the students, she reflected on how dramatically learning has evolved. Today’s generation benefits from computers, online libraries, and artificial intelligence tools, opening new possibilities for knowledge and innovation.

Pr. Eng. Sophia Belete-Tekie has been internationally recognized as a Trailblazer in Engineering and received the Women in Engineering Leadership Award at the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and 9th African Engineering Conference in Kampala, Uganda. She also made history as the first woman to serve as President of the Engineering Professions Association of Namibia (EPA) for two terms and is the Immediate Past President of the Engineering Council of Namibia, where she has served as a member since 2005.

As we mark International Women’s Day, her journey highlights the importance of empowering women in engineering and inspiring future generations to lead, innovate, and contribute to building a better world.

🏗️🇪🇹 Ethiopia is Building!
🏗️🇪🇹 ኢትዮጵያ ትገነባለች!
A high-impact Stakeholder Engagement Meeting for the inaugural Ethiopia Infrastructure and Construction Week was successfully held at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa.
The meeting was led by H.E. Minister Chaltu Sani, Minister of Urban and Infrastructure, and brought together top leaders and decision-makers from across Ethiopia’s infrastructure ecosystem, including:

🔹 Ethiopian Airlines
🔹 Ethio Telecom
🔹 Ethiopian Railway Corporation
🔹 Ethiopian Electric Power
🔹 Relevant Ministries, Associations, and Major Infrastructure Companies

This strategic gathering focused on fostering collaboration, aligning priorities, and accelerating infrastructure development through innovation, speed, and quality — laying a strong foundation for the main event.

Under the theme “Innovation, Speed, and Quality for Infrastructure Excellence”, the Ethiopia Infrastructure and Construction Week is set to take place from 17–20 April 2026 in Addis Ababa.
This landmark platform will showcase achievements, facilitate knowledge exchange, unlock investment and partnership opportunities, and drive Ethiopia’s infrastructure leap forward through effective public-private collaboration.
Government agencies, Leaders, Professionals, investors, contractors, technology providers, and all construction & infrastructure stakeholders — mark your calendars and join us in April 2026!

Together, we are building the future of Ethiopia. 🏗️

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