By Mustafa Abdi Ibrahim
The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Mohamed Muse Diriye was the guest of honor at the graduation ceremony held for 35 students who have completed a one-year Professional Certificate Journalism course at the research and community services directorate of the University of Hargeisa and which was funded by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Mr. Mohamed Muse Diriye, minister of information, culture and national guidance speaking at the ceremony said, “The media has played a vital role in the national building of Somaliland and responsible media are necessary attributes of democracy, tolerance, and good governance and the whole world has acknowledged our accomplishments in that area.
He added that Journalism has a great role in shaping the day to day of citizens and there is more to journalism than writing a journal or read the news on the television be it economically, environmental or health thence the need for the journalist to widen their scope of reporting.
The Information minister offered to employ at the ministry of information one of the graduating students who is disabled and wheelchair bound.
Dr. Mahmud, the chancellor University of Hargeisa, in his opening remarks lauded the 35 journalism students for their hard work and advised them to utilize their newly garnered knowledge in enlighten and inform the society in the right ways since the way they report influences public perception.
Mr. Stuart Brown head of UK office in Somaliland congratulate the new graduates and wished them a successful career.
Mr. Mahmud Abdi Jama, the chairman of SOLJA thanked Mr. Stuart Brown, the UK representative in Somaliland and the University of Hargeisa for making this program a success and inform the journalists to make use of newly acquired skills while exciting their daily work.
Of the 35 graduating students, four are girls, while the other 31 are boys, having achieved one of their long-standing achievements.
