Ugaas Abdirahman Ugaas Khalif laid down the foundation for the establishment of Hiiraan University in Beled Weyne Credit: Aden Hassan Bashir/Hiiraan Online

Alhamdulillah, it has been a long time coming and it is finally here – Hiiraan University.

Accompanied by other prominent community leaders, elders, intellectuals, workers, women, and students, Ugaas Abdirahman Ugaas Khalif laid down the foundation for the establishment of Hiiraan University in Belet Weyne, Hiiraan Province.

After series of focused meetings that was facilitated by the management of the B/Weyne library and Abdulqadir Khalif Diriye who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hiiraan University Association, the historic ceremony took place on August 10, 2005 at a land with the size of 150 X 160 M that has been donated by, among others, Dr. Ibrahim Ali Saney, Engineer Ahmed A/lle Gure, Omar Mohamoud Afrah “Teelow”, and Nuradin Hassan Gure.

Abdulqadir Khalif Diiriye, who resides in Toronto, Canada, briefed the community members about the steps that have been taken toward the establishment of the university, participated in the focused meetings for the community to discuss pros and cons of establishing the university, and took part in the ceremony.

At the ceremony, Ugaas Abdirahman thanked the various segments of the Hiiraanians in Somalia and in the diaspora for their past and, more importantly, future support in making the dream of having a higher education institution in Hiiraan a reality.

Some of the distinguished members of the community who spoke at the ceremony include Ugaas Ali Ugaas Hassan, Engineer A/llahi Abdi Ali “Koofi”, Hon. Ahmed, Hassan Barrow, and MP Zeynab Aamir.

Even before the ceremony was over, donation pledges were made by representatives of the women’s organization and individuals in the diaspora community who telephoned the participants of the ceremony.

Hiiraan University is the first of its kind in the Hiiraan Province and is intended to provide university education to the high school graduates from the various schools in the province and in other parts of Somalia. It is therefore, committed to train all Somalis, with necessary qualifications. Despite lack of functioning government in Somalia, education and the future of coming generation must not be neglected.

Dr. Ibrahim Dhaqane Ali, the Hiiraan University Administrator, will be leading the efforts to establish Hiiraan University and implement the academic programs.

Hiiraanians everywhere and of all generations will never forget those who donated the land for the university.

Hiiraan University Association (HUA) is open to anyone who supports the objectives of the organization.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

OR write to:
Hiiraan University
P.O.Box 82481 Columbus,
OH 43202 (USA)

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