The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, attended the graduation ceremony of the second batch of the United Nations Peace University.
President Mohamud became the country’s first head of state with a doctorate Degree.
The President is one of the students who graduated from the same University this year and was taking a Ph.D. in Peace, Good Governance, and Development.
In 2018, when UPEACE began offering its program in Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh was one of the first students to enrol in the university’s doctoral program.
As an industry veteran of thirty years, he asserts, “Education can reconstruct our nation and government.”
He said, “We wish to simplify and reduce the cost of education.â€
Before entering politics, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud taught at SIMAD University in Mogadishu, Somalia, and was one of its founding members. He also worked in community development and peacemaking.
As part of putting together the new government in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh has taken important steps toward education and development.
The University for Peace was established through UN General Assembly resolution 35/55 of December 5, 1980, globally to lessen the obstacles to peace as enshrined by the United Nations Charter.
President Hassan Sheikh signed the instrument of accession during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Thus, Somalia became the 42nd nation to sign the UPEACE charter.
There are over 2,000 alumni from 120 countries who have graduated with Master’s and doctoral degree programs at UPEACE.
In late 2018, UPEACE expanded its operations to Somalia and aims to build a full-fledged campus in Mogadishu to aid Somalia’s post-conflict recovery.
In 2021, on International Peace Day, September, 76 master’s degree students from UPEACE in Mogadishu graduated in the presence of James Swan, the Special Representative of the secretary general of the United Nations for Somalia.
As Somalia recovers from decades of civil strife, UPEACE has become the only international institution with a physical presence in Somalia to offer a PhD in Peace, Governance, and Development.
