By Dr. Osman Sayid - Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences
"Every classroom furnished, lecturer recruited and student supported contributes to a future that may initially seem distant." Dr. Osman Sayid
Some events compel us to pause, reflect, and put pen to paper. The laying of the foundation stone for SIMAD University’s Science and Technology Campus on October 15, 2026, was one such occasion.
As a member of the SIMAD community, I felt a deep sense of pride, gratitude, and a renewed weight of responsibility. Beyond our university gates, this milestone stands as a powerful testament to confidence in education’s capacity to shape Somalia’s future.
Working in higher education, one comes to intimately understand the planning, funding, and sustained grit required to bring a project of this magnitude to life.
Ultimately, its true value will not be measured in concrete and steel, but in the educational opportunities it unlocks, the research it empowers, and the graduates it prepares to serve society.
From Used Chairs to a Vision for the Future
Big ideas often begin with small conversations and modest resources. In a recent interview with Radio Mogadishu, SIMAD’s Rector, Dr. Abdikarim Mohaidin Ahmed, recalled the institution’s early days, when used chairs and tables were purchased from Bakaaraha Market. He reflected on how those humble beginnings laid the groundwork for the university’s exponential growth.
That narrative captures the cumulative nature of institution-building. Every classroom furnished, every lecturer recruited, and every student supported contributes to a future that once felt impossibly distant.
SIMAD’s trajectory demonstrates how consistent effort can transform a modest educational initiative into a cornerstone institution with national ambitions.
Yet, this journey has not been without hardship. The university has endured insecurity, political volatility, and the steep challenges of operating in a nation rebuilding its state institutions.
Along the way, colleagues and students have paid the ultimate price. As we celebrate this new chapter, we honor their memory and their permanent place in SIMAD’s history.
A Legacy of Resilience and Recognition
Established as an institute of higher learning in November 1999, SIMAD has served Somalia for nearly 27 years. Its growth reflects an enduring partnership with Direct Aid and a shared conviction that education is the ultimate bedrock for national recovery and development.
Today, thousands of SIMAD graduates contribute to public institutions, private enterprises, humanitarian organizations, and communities across Somalia and abroad. Others have launched innovative businesses or pursued advanced degrees. Their achievements are the clearest validation of the university’s societal impact.
This footprint has also earned international recognition. In the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings 2024, SIMAD placed seventh among participating universities and stood proudly as the highest-ranked institution in Somalia. This milestone reinforces our commitment to elevating teaching, research, and public service.
The foundation ceremony itself brought together a distinguished gathering, including Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Education Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, representatives of Direct Aid, and SIMAD’s leadership.
For me, the day symbolized a profound continuity: a bridge between those who built educational institutions during Somalia’s darkest years and those now carrying that torch forward.
I want to extend particular appreciation to Dr. Abdulrahman Saleh Al-Muhailan, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Direct Aid Society, for his unwavering support, and to Rector Dr. Abdikarim Mohaidin Ahmed and his team for driving this project forward.
As a SIMAD graduate who now leads the institution, Dr. Ahmed is a living embodiment of the university’s capacity to cultivate its own visionary leadership.
A Modern Campus Designed for Impact
The ceremony evoked personal memories of my own studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia—a campus where integrated teaching facilities, student residences, libraries, sports grounds, and a mosque fostered a vibrant, multicultural academic life.
More from Somalia
SIMAD’s new campus offers an extraordinary opportunity to recreate and localize that enriching environment right here in Somalia.
Designed to accommodate up to 15,000 students, the new campus master plan features:
91 classrooms
30 lecture halls
36 specialized laboratories
3 libraries
Comprehensive student services, residential housing, athletic facilities, a mosque, and an auditorium
While state-of-the-art facilities vastly enhance practical learning and scientific inquiry, their ultimate success will depend on qualified faculty, rigorous programs, and robust research support.
Our metrics for success must remain anchored in what our students learn, the real-world problems our researchers solve, and the tangible value our graduates return to society.
Looking Ahead
Crucially, this project expands SIMAD’s capacity to forge deeper academic partnerships across East Africa, the wider continent, and the Arab world. Realizing that ambition requires investing as heavily in our people and curricula as we do in physical infrastructure.
This achievement belongs to the broader Somali higher education community; it sends a resounding message of confidence in our nation's youth.
Laying the foundation is a celebrated milestone, but completing and sustaining the campus will demand rigorous oversight, steady funding, and meticulous preparation of our academic systems.
I thank Allah for allowing us to witness this milestone and express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone whose labor has brought this vision to reality. May Allah bless its successful completion and make it an enduring fountain of knowledge and service for Somalia and beyond.
——-
About the Author:
Dr. Osman Sayid, Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, SIMAD University
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Dawan Africa.