Thursday March 2, 2023
MOGADISHU Xinhua) -- It was a day marked with joy and contentment for 58-year-old Sheikh Hassan Mohamed Gedi who took rhythmic steps onto the graduation podium to receive his degree certificate, something he had strived for over the past 34 good years through a relentless pursuit of undergraduate studies.
When Gedi's turn of the conferment of degrees arrived, the graduation square at the Horn of Africa University in central Somalia's Galmudug State turned into a frenzy as graduates and their guests belted victory songs.
Clad in a black cap and black gown with yellow stripes, Gedi was among 44 students who successfully finished their undergraduate studies and were conferred with various degrees during the university's fifth graduation ceremony held on Feb. 16.
His advanced age coupled with his hair dyed in brown color made him conspicuously visible from other students graduating on that day.
The university offers academic programs, which include math and physics, public administration, business administration and public health and nursing.
"I never thought this day would come to pass in my life. I almost lost hope of ever graduating with a degree," he said.
At the age of 24, Gedi recalled with nostalgia entering one of the lecture halls of the Somali National University in 1989. At the time, he never imagined the journey of learning could take decades for him.
"I enrolled for a civil engineering course at the Somali National University, the then-only public university in Somalia as a part-time student but unfortunately after two years into the course, the central government collapsed and the country plunged into civil strife," Gedi said.
He said his dream was to attain a degree in civil engineering and join the civil service but upon the eruption of civil war in his motherland, his dream was dashed.
The father of eight said he first completed his primary education in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, before proceeding to the 21st October Secondary School in 1985. He later enrolled at the Halane military barrack for two years in Mogadishu. "At Halane military training base, we were taught all military drills handling all types of weapons and engaging in combat. We were also taught about good citizenry and leadership skills."
Upon completing his two-year military course in 1987, he was employed at the Somali National Oil Corporation as an accountant, but when the civil strife escalated, he decided to flee to neighboring Kenya.
Somalia plunged into civil strife in the early 1990s following a popular political uprising that ousted then-President Siad Barre, leaving the country in political chaos.
Since then, Somalis have been through years of civil strife and one of Africa's longest civil wars. The country is weak because it is divided into clans that could not unite to form a strong central government. But despite numerous peace attempts by both the regional and international community, peace has remained elusive as the country becomes a theater of al-Shabab terrorists.
Gedi stayed briefly at a refugee camp in the northeastern Kenyan County of Mandera but relocated to Kenya's capital of Nairobi where he was hosted by relatives before he moved to Rwanda in search of greener pastures.
In 2005, Gedi returned to Mogadishu from Rwanda where he stayed for two years. He later shifted to Adado town, Galmudug State.
Thanks to his love for education, Gedi also volunteered as a teacher at Imaamu Maalik, a local secondary school that has produced talented professionals who are serving the country in different capacities. According to him, life-long learning among the youth and the middle-aged population has transformed Somalia's political, cultural and economic structures.
"My achievement to graduate at the age of 58 is testimony that age should never be a barrier to the realization of our dreams. I am ready to pursue my Master's degree if someone or an institution supports my education," he added.