In a vibrant ceremony at the Ambassador Hotel today, the Youth Development Fund of the Republic of Somaliland awarded prizes and financial support to 55 talented young entrepreneurs whose creative business ideas stood out in a month-long fair competition.
The event drew a high-level audience, including government ministers, the Chairman of the WADDANI Party, members of parliament, and senior officials, all of whom praised the initiative and encouraged the winners to seize the opportunity for lasting impact.
Mr. Abdiqadir Ismail Jaylaani, Director of the Fund, reaffirmed the institution’s strong commitment to youth job creation through innovation. “Investing in young people with skills and business ideas is far more powerful than general job creation,” he said. “A funded innovator doesn’t just create a job for themselves — they become job creators for others.”
The 55 winners hailed from diverse regions across Somaliland, from Ceel Afweyn- Sanaag Region in the east to Baki- Awdal Region in the west — a clear sign of the program’s nationwide reach and commitment to equal opportunity.
Highlighting the broader vision, the Director stressed that the initiative aims to nurture entrepreneurship, build skills, and spark sustainable economic growth and social progress.
He concluded by pledging that the Youth Development Fund will continue rolling out similar programs to amplify the role of young Somalilanders in driving the nation’s development.