International Mother Language Commemoration – Feb 21, 2016

In colorful event intended to commemorate International Mother Language Day has been jointly organized by the Puntland Ministry of Information, Puntland State University and Intergovernmental Academy of Somali Language held today in Garowe, PSU Main Campus, the theme of the event was “Support your Mother Tongue,” in Somali ” U Hiili Afkaaga”

Key Puntland Ministers including Education Minister, Director General of the ministry of Information, Deputy Minister of Women Development and family Affairs, media, academia, writers and civil society attended this commemoration event.

In his opening remarks to mark the occasion, PSU Vice Chancellor, Mohamud Hamid Mohamed welcomed honorable guests invited to the occasion. Also, he featured the importance to advance the use of the mother language.

The vice Chancellor stated the tangible contribution of PSU in developing the culture and Language and mentioned that PSU has a co- curriculum cultural activities that the University Students are supposed to perform with in each academic year,

Finally the Vice Chancellor publicized officially The establishment of the Faculty of Journalism and Somali Studies.

The dean of the Faculty of journalism and Somali Studies Mr Said M. Shidad emphasized the intervention of his faculty to the Somali heritage in general and also Somali Laguage specifically, he mentioned that his faculty will Primary establishment/building:

• The Somali culture museum.
• Scientific Terminology Committee (Terminology Translators)
• Oral talk, History & Litrature Archive (Dying Library Documentation)

Writers and other high level academians delivered speech on this occasion and recounted the main important of this day on mother language.

Education Minister Dr. AbshirYusuf Isse addressed to the audience the contemporary challenges which faces Somali Language, the minister used several Somali words showing that Somali Language is enriched with history, culture and heritage and recounted how it is to be proud of mother language and use it effectively, the minister declared that his Ministry will give further prominence to Somali language.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage.

21^st February of every year is a worldwide annual observance for marking International Mother Language Day since 1999 when it was officially announced by UNESCO.