ABOUT SAMUEL

Samuel Alemayhu was born on June 12/1942 in Dembi Dolo, Wollega from his father Alemayehu Asfaw and from his mother Etaferahu Hailemariam. He was the second child of the seven children they had together. As a child Samuel always displayed a character of kindness, reserve and seriousness. He finished his elementary education, in Addis Ababa, in the Patriots' School and his secondary education in the Commercial School in July 1961.

He was then employed by the Besse Company in Addis Abeba and was an active participant in the Confederation of Ethiopian Labor Unions for seven years. On April 9, 1968, Samuel was awarded a Certificate of Merit in recognition of his outstanding services in organizing and consolidating the Union, and in recognition of his unreserved devotion toward building up a sound and Democratic Labor Movement in Ethiopia. 

In 1968, he went to the United States for a higher education and graduated with honor from Cornell University , Ithaca, N.Y and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and labor relations in 1972 and his Masters degree in Public Administration in 1973.