By M.A. Egge
The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi graced the occasion of the maiden graduation of the Ministry of Information’s Media Training Institute which was recently established that saw the first batch of 23 pioneer students earn certificates after completing four months course in basic journalism techniques.
He personally presented the certificates to the graduates.
The Head of State similarly unveiled and launched various projects that have been implemented by the Ministry of Information for the past 11 months.
In his passionate speech to the scribes, the President urged them to be responsible in their duties and adhere to the tenets and ethics of the profession as per cue.
He reminded them of the venerable and onerous tasks the profession entailed and likened it to demands of etiquettes similar to those of clerical sermons from the pulpit.
He stated that the media fraternity should always be at the forefront in their obligations of fostering positive ideals that are paramount in upholding and safeguarding unity, cohesion, progress and stability within the nation as they go about their duties in disseminating information and associated news.
It is worth noting that the tutorial staff of the institution are well established and veteran journalists led by journalism don Professor Dahir Mohamud Haddi, Faysal Fadfadle, Abdillahi Wayab, Hussein Jama (Hagar) and Ahmed Fas, amongst others. The 23 students were drawn from both the public and the private media.
On his part the Information, Culture and National Guidance Minister Hon. Ali Mohamed Hassan who is popularly known as Ali Mareehaan, informed the audience of the tasks he had achieved by being at the helm of the ministry during the short stint of time of slightly a year.
The Director General of the ministry Mr. Mustafa Abdi Isse (Shiine), who is himself a veteran journalist, briefed the President on the genesis of the implementation of the Media Training Institute.
He said that as a ministry they made consultations with the present tutorial board and pondered on the inception of the academy, and at last, put the concepts into gear and finally it was established.
Immediately the foundation stone was then for the academy, laid by none other than the president himself five months ago, and now the fruits of the efforts is the maiden pioneer lot that have just been churned out armed with better expertise in the professional strings.