When the fourth Zambian President, Rupiah Banda, came to Addis Abeba to attend his first African Union Summit in February 2009, he called his trip a "homecoming." The reason for his claim was Addis Abeba University (AAU), where he spent some years of his youth. Five decades back, AAU was famous for awarding scholarships for the brightest students, including Banda, from African countries, especially those who struggled for liberation from colonisers.
Once a prestigious African institution, now it does not even make the top 10 in the rankings of African universities. Being understaffed without many high-ranking teachers, like professors and associate and assistant professors, is one of the problems raised in association with the University. Observers criticise the University, which, let alone recruiting new professors, has dragged its feet in promoting its existing academic staff.
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