- 2 weeks ago
Over the past decade, thousands of Somali students and professionals have received advanced education and technical training in Türkiye. From engineering and medicine to public administration and infrastructure development, this growing group is returning home with new skills, global exposure, and practical experience.
This video explores what Somalis trained in Türkiye say about Somalia’s future. Through facts, trends, and real-world outcomes, we examine how international education partnerships are influencing Somalia’s recovery, workforce development, and long-term stability. The focus is not on politics, but on human capital, knowledge transfer, and capacity building.
Türkiye has become one of Somalia’s key education and training partners, offering scholarships, vocational programs, and institutional cooperation. As these trained individuals re-enter Somalia’s economy, they bring modern standards, professional networks, and a renewed sense of possibility.
What impact can this have on healthcare, infrastructure, governance, and entrepreneurship?
Can education abroad accelerate national rebuilding at home?
This documentary looks at the evidence, the challenges, and the potential paths forward—through the voices and experiences of Somalis shaped by Türkiye’s education system.
This video explores what Somalis trained in Türkiye say about Somalia’s future. Through facts, trends, and real-world outcomes, we examine how international education partnerships are influencing Somalia’s recovery, workforce development, and long-term stability. The focus is not on politics, but on human capital, knowledge transfer, and capacity building.
Türkiye has become one of Somalia’s key education and training partners, offering scholarships, vocational programs, and institutional cooperation. As these trained individuals re-enter Somalia’s economy, they bring modern standards, professional networks, and a renewed sense of possibility.
What impact can this have on healthcare, infrastructure, governance, and entrepreneurship?
Can education abroad accelerate national rebuilding at home?
This documentary looks at the evidence, the challenges, and the potential paths forward—through the voices and experiences of Somalis shaped by Türkiye’s education system.
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LearningTranscript
00:00Today's video is about a unique partnership that is reshaping East Africa.
00:05Since 2011, Turkey has sponsored Somali students to study in Turkish institutions.
00:11One graduate now leads Somalia's Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport.
00:16Another directs the country's largest national university.
00:20In Mogadishu, Turkish-trained doctors are saving lives daily.
00:25Entrepreneurs are launching businesses using skills gained abroad.
00:29Education became a tool for diplomacy and development.
00:34Welcome to the channel.
00:35We'll explore how Turkish soft power is building Somali hospitals, ministries, and markets.
00:41Stay with us for the full story. It's one of hope and transformation.
00:46In 2016, a young Somali named Abdul Qadir Mohamed Nur graduated from Ankara University
00:54with a degree in international relations.
00:57Today, he serves as Somalia's Minister of Ports and Marine Transport.
01:02His journey is part of a larger shift transforming Somali society from within.
01:09Since 2011, Turkey has steadily expanded its educational outreach to Africa.
01:15Over 15,000 African students have studied in Turkish universities.
01:21Of these, more than 1,000 are Somali.
01:24According to Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Somalia is among the top five countries receiving Turkey scholarships.
01:33These scholarships cover tuition, housing, and living expenses.
01:38In exchange, Somalia gains trained professionals who return with skills and purpose.
01:44This approach is known as reverse brain drain.
01:47Unlike Western models, it encourages students to come back and rebuild their home countries.
01:55In the case of Somalia, the results are already visible.
01:59Institutions are being restructured.
02:02Ministries are being staffed by technocrats.
02:06Hospitals are being run by Turkish-trained specialists.
02:09In Mogadishu's Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Hasan Salat-Faido has served since 2017.
02:19He trained in Turkey and now performs life-saving operations.
02:23According to hospital data, trauma response times have improved by 40% since his return.
02:30Other sectors are seeing similar change.
02:33In 2015, Dr. Mohamed Mohamed returned to become director of Somali National University.
02:41He earned his degree from Fyret University in Turkey.
02:45Since his appointment, enrollment has doubled.
02:49Curriculum modernization is underway.
02:52Reports show that over 30 faculty members at Somali universities are Turkish-educated.
02:58This includes vice-chancellors, department heads, and deans.
03:03Their presence is raising academic standards.
03:06According to UNESCO, Somalia's tertiary education enrollment rose by 75% between 2015 and 2022.
03:16Much of that is linked to returning graduates who brought new systems and teaching styles.
03:22At the Ministry of Justice, the undersecretary is another Turkish-trained graduate.
03:27He returned after six years of study.
03:31His reforms include digitizing case records and reducing backlog by 22%.
03:36These are not isolated achievements.
03:40They represent a coordinated rise of a new professional class.
03:45These leaders are young.
03:47They are globally aware.
03:49And they are grounded in Somali needs.
03:52The average age of Turkey-educated Somali returnees is under 35.
03:56Many speak three or more languages.
04:00This gives them an edge in international negotiations.
04:04It also improves public diplomacy.
04:07Turkey's influence has grown accordingly.
04:11According to Anadolu Agency, trade between Turkey and Somalia exceeded $200 million in 2022.
04:18Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Mogadishu in 2012, becoming the first European carrier to do so in decades.
04:28Today, Istanbul-Mogadishu is a critical connection for students, diplomats, and business leaders.
04:35Beyond economics, the cultural bond is deepening.
04:40Language programs in Turkish are now part of Somali high school curricula.
04:44Teachers like Ellis Abdul Qadir Mohamed, a graduate of Turkish institutions, are leading this change.
04:53They teach not just language, but also cultural understanding.
04:57This soft diplomacy builds mutual trust.
05:01It's reflected in public sentiment.
05:03Surveys conducted by the East Africa Institute show 68% of Somalis view Turkey as Somalia's most reliable ally.
05:13That number surpasses traditional partners by a wide margin.
05:17This perception is rooted in visible impact.
05:21While other nations focus on security, Turkey invests in human capital.
05:26In 2023, over 300 new Somali students began their studies in Turkey.
05:34They are training in fields like civil engineering, medicine, law, and education.
05:39These are precisely the sectors Somalia needs to stabilize and grow.
05:45According to the Somali Ministry of Planning, 70% of national development goals depend on skilled labor.
05:52And that labor force is increasingly shaped in Turkish universities.
05:58Analysts suggest this partnership offers a model for other developing nations.
06:03It replaces aid with agency.
06:06It turns scholarship into statecraft.
06:09It empowers returnees to become reformers.
06:12Their success is Somalia's success.
06:15Their vision is national recovery.
06:18And their presence is changing the narrative.
06:20From failed state to rising nation.
06:24From conflict to competence.
06:26From isolation to integration.
06:29One graduate at a time.
06:31In the next part, we'll explore how these returnees are fueling Somalia's economic transformation through entrepreneurship.
06:39Stay with us for part two.
06:41In the heart of Mogadishu's bustling Bacara market, a quiet revolution is unfolding one business at a time.
06:55Somalia's private sector, once devastated by decades of conflict, is showing signs of renewal.
07:02At the center of this transformation are returnees educated in Turkey.
07:07These graduates are not only skilled professionals.
07:11They are also bold entrepreneurs building a new Somali economy.
07:17One of them is Noima Salad.
07:19She studied chemistry and product development in Turkey.
07:23Upon returning, she launched a cosmetics and fragrance brand.
07:28Her company now employs 25 people.
07:31It sources local ingredients and serves a growing urban market.
07:36According to Somalia's Ministry of Commerce, the number of registered small businesses has risen by 60% since 2018.
07:45A significant portion is led by youth trained abroad, many in Turkey.
07:50This shift is more than numbers.
07:54It signals a mindset change.
07:56These entrepreneurs are using global insights to solve local problems.
08:02They understand product design, branding, and supply chain management.
08:06Skills they learned in Turkish universities and workshops.
08:10The ripple effect is massive.
08:13Jobs are being created.
08:15Local manufacturing is reviving.
08:18Urban centers are expanding.
08:19In 2022 alone, the Somali Chamber of Commerce recorded over 5,000 new business registrations.
08:28Turkai-trained graduates contributed to sectors ranging from logistics to agribusiness.
08:34Take Abdullah Ihasan, a mechanical engineer trained in Istanbul.
08:39He returned in 2019 and co-founded a solar energy startup.
08:44Today, his firm provides off-grid power to over 3,000 homes across southern Somalia.
08:51In a country where only 30% of the population has access to electricity, the impact is profound.
08:59According to the International Energy Agency, such microenergy solutions are key to Somalia's rural development.
09:07Many Turkish-trained engineers are now part of this push.
09:11They combine technical know-how with local networks.
09:15The result is smarter, faster, and more sustainable infrastructure.
09:20In the construction sector, the change is visible on Mogadishu's skyline.
09:26Turkish-trained architects are leading the design of shopping centers, housing units, and clinics.
09:32They use earthquake-resistant models and eco-friendly materials.
09:37Techniques widely adopted in Turkish cities.
09:40In 2023, Somalia's construction sector grew by 7.2%, according to World Bank estimates.
09:49Much of this growth is tied to domestic investment, not foreign contractors.
09:54And the new wave of investors?
09:57Again, many were trained in Turkey.
10:00Beyond the capital, the economic shift is reaching smaller cities.
10:04In Kismayo and Baidoa, Turkish-educated agricultural specialists are introducing drip irrigation systems.
10:13These systems reduce water usage by 40%.
10:16Yields have increased by up to 60% in some pilot farms.
10:22This has improved food security and reduced import dependency.
10:26According to the FAO, Somalia still imports 60% of its food.
10:32But these reforms could reverse that trend.
10:35Logistics is another sector seeing innovation.
10:39Somali graduates from Turkish business schools have launched transport startups using mobile apps and digital payments.
10:46This has streamlined delivery systems in Mogadishu and beyond.
10:51In a nation where 70% of adults use mobile money, digital-first businesses have enormous potential.
11:00Turkey as role is not just limited to sending graduates home.
11:04Turkish companies are now partnering with alumni-led startups.
11:08Co-investments, training hubs, and mentorship programs are expanding.
11:14One initiative, the Somali-Turkish Business Forum, was launched in 2021.
11:20It connects Turkish investors with Somali entrepreneurs.
11:24So far, over $20 million in deals have been facilitated.
11:29This ecosystem is reinforcing itself.
11:33As more graduates return, they mentor others.
11:36They start firms.
11:37They hire locally.
11:40They reinvest.
11:42According to a 2023 study by the Somali Economic Forum,
11:46businesses founded by Turkish-educated returnees have a 70% survival rate after three years.
11:54This is double the national average.
11:56Why?
11:57Analysts point to better planning, stronger networks, and strategic thinking.
12:02These qualities are nurtured in Turkey as universities and professional culture.
12:07There is also cultural synergy.
12:10Somalis report feeling culturally connected to Turkey.
12:14Shared values, food, and religious customs make integration smoother during their studies.
12:21This reduces dropout rates and improves educational outcomes.
12:25Ultimately, the result is a new generation of business leaders fluent in both global markets and local realities.
12:34They are the architects of Somalia's next economy.
12:38And their success is changing perceptions.
12:42From aid dependency to enterprise.
12:44From collapse to creativity.
12:47From survival to growth.
12:49In part three, we'll explore how this Turk-Somalia partnership is reshaping public institutions and building a modern state.
12:57Stay tuned.
12:59In 2010, Somalia's public institutions were fragmented, underfunded, and largely non-functional.
13:11Today, they are being quietly rebuilt by a new generation of administrators, educators, and policy makers.
13:18Many of them were educated in Turkey.
13:21Their influence is most visible not on television screens, but inside ministry offices, university lecture halls, and district health clinics.
13:31These returnees are redefining governance in Somalia by applying modern management systems and inclusive leadership practices learned abroad.
13:41One of the most striking examples is Dr. Mohamed Mohamed, now director of Somali National University.
13:49He earned his doctorate at Turkey as Fire at University and returned in 2015.
13:55Since then, enrollment at SNU has doubled and over 20 new academic programs have been introduced.
14:02According to the Ministry of Education, higher education capacity in Somalia has increased by 80% between 2015.
14:11and 2023.
14:12At the same time, curriculum reforms inspired by Turkish models are raising standards.
14:19In the justice sector, the transformation is just as profound.
14:24The Ministry of Justice's undersecretary, a Turk-high-educated legal expert, led a reform program to digitize court records.
14:33This initiative reduced case backlog by 22% in just two years.
14:38The digitization project was co-developed with Turkish legal scholars.
14:43Public procurement is now more transparent.
14:47Civil servant training includes courses in ethics and accountability.
14:51These changes reflect the core strengths of Turkey's own state model, a centralized system with strong institutional coherence.
15:00In health care, the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital stands as a flagship symbol of this cooperation.
15:08Opened in 2015, it is jointly run by Somali and Turkish staff.
15:13Over 30% of Somali doctors at the hospital were educated in Turkey.
15:19According to the hospital's 2023 report, patient capacity has increased by 55% in five years.
15:28Surgical success rates, especially in orthopedic trauma, are now on par with regional standards.
15:35This is largely due to returning specialists like Dr. Hassan Salat-Fido.
15:40Outside the capital, Turk-high-trained nurses and midwives are filling critical gaps.
15:47In Puntland and Jubaland, regional clinics now receive trained health workers through public service rotations.
15:55These professionals bring not just technical skill, but a service ethic rooted in Turkey's public health model.
16:02Education is another front line of reform.
16:05At Mattia Omar Halley's Deer School, Turkish-trained teachers now deliver classes in Turkish, English, and Somali.
16:14Teacher Ellis Abdul Qadir Mohamed, a graduate of Turkish programs, teaches language and civic studies.
16:22His students are exposed to ideas of social responsibility and civic duty early on.
16:28According to the Somali Ministry of Youth, students in such programs perform 30% higher in literacy and civic knowledge.
16:37At the university level, Turkish-trained faculty now occupy key positions.
16:43Simed University's leadership includes a director, vice director, and multiple deans educated in Turkey.
16:50These academics are updating course material, improving student assessment, and building international partnerships.
16:58The impact is cumulative.
17:01Each graduate reinforces an institution.
17:04Each institution reinforces the state.
17:07Turkey's approach to soft power in Somalia is strategic.
17:11Unlike traditional donors focused on short-term aid, Turkey builds human capital.
17:17According to the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, TK, over 10,000 Somalis have received technical or academic training since 2011.
17:29These programs span governance, disaster response, agriculture, and urban planning.
17:35Evidence suggests they are paying off.
17:37Somalia's public budget has grown from $113 million in 2012 to over $530 million in 2022.
17:47Tax collection efficiency has improved.
17:51More public services are now accessible outside Mogadishu.
17:55Young officials, trained abroad, are driving these changes.
18:00They are technocrats, not politicians.
18:03Their decisions are shaped by data, not ideology.
18:07And they are increasingly trusted by citizens.
18:09A 2023 Gallup poll in Mogadishu found 64% of residents have strong trust in ministries led by foreign-trained returnees.
18:20This marks a sharp increase from a decade ago.
18:24Turkey's bet on education is reshaping a state from the inside out.
18:29From failed governance to functional bureaucracy.
18:32From weak institutions to rising systems.
18:36From chaos to coordination.
18:39It is a quiet transformation powered by books, classrooms, and commitment.
18:44Somalia's future is being written not only by history, but by those who studied it abroad and returned to shape it at home.
18:52And through this bridge of learning, Turkey has become more than a partner.
18:56It has become part of Somalia's path forward.
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