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by Mohamed Amin, Hiiraan Online
[email protected]
Monday, August 04, 2008
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Mogadishu University |
Mogadishu University has opened its first chapter outside Mogadishu. The new chapter was opened in Bosaso, Puntalnd according to BBC’s Somali Services. Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Badiyow) who is senior member of the University’s administration was present at the opening ceremony. Speaking to Ahmed Kismayo, BBC reporter in Bosaso Mr. Badiyow said that University’s administration and its supporters endured hard times and worked under difficult situation including the continuing civil war in Mogadishu.
Mr. Badiyow said that they decided to make sure the continuation of education in the country no matter what. “Without education means no nation” said Mr. Badiyow who added that when they first introduced the idea of opening a university in Mogadishu, no one believed them and today after 12 years it is a proud moment to see Mogadishu University expanding and opening a branch in Bosaso.
Mohamed Mire Dubad, the Minister of Education in Puntland who spoke at the opening ceremony thanked the leadership of the University in advancing Somalia’s education and creating civil societies that cross clan boundaries and come together to work for the common good of the country and people.
Many people from the region who attended the opening ceremony welcomed the idea and called it a step forward in breaking barriers among communities which have been divided along clan lines.
According to the MU's website, In September 22, 1997, Mogadishu University was officially opened in a small room in the presence of four of the founding members and five teaching staff. The first campus of MU was located in the former Mohamud Ahmed Ali Secondary School.
The road to the establishment of MU was not furnished with roses. Substantial planning, extensive traveling and fund-raising efforts were invested in the years of (1993-1997). The initial vision and heroic decision to work towards instituting a community non-profit university was unbelievable in the mindset of war-torn community and divided city of Mogadishu.
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Students at Mogadishu University |
Moreover, the community and their leaders were lacking in faith of the possibility of establishing university believing that only governments could do such projects. Furthermore, besides the impoverishment of the community at large, the culture of paying for education was absent. These challenges were dealt within early years of the university.
Mogadishu University is the premier non-state university in Somalia dedicated to providing affordable and accessible high quality education attuned to the national values of the Somali people.
In a short period of its life, Mogadishu University was ranked among the top universities in Africa. The university achieved great accomplishments in different fields. In a recent ranking of universities in Africa by World Universities Ranking on the Web, it was ranked among the top 100 African universities and placed 79th in Africa preceding well-known old universities in academic institutions in the continent.
And more recently, MU was ranked the 40th among African universities. This is extraordinary achievement in a city and country where life is a daily struggle and people live under constant threat of death. Thanks to the brave men and women who strived for excellence and achieved it. Now that MU university is branching out to other parts of the country, it is time to celebrate but also aspire to greater achievement in the future.