Cihan University-Erbil Holds Special Ceremony for International Mother Language Day
In celebration of International Mother Language Day, a special ceremony was held at Cihan University-Erbil, bringing together linguists, experts, and Kurdish language enthusiasts. The event, marked under the slogan “Kurdistan: The Center of Coexistence,” highlighted the significance of preserving and promoting linguistic diversity.
The ceremony took place on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in the university’s VIP Hall, attended by Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, President of Cihan University-Erbil; Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities; the Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs; along with faculty members, students and distinguished scholars dedicated to the advancement of the Kurdish language.
During the International Mother Language Day ceremony at Cihan University-Erbil, Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of preserving and advancing the Kurdish language.
After warmly welcoming the guests, Dr. Bajger emphasized that Kurdish is a living language that must be continuously nurtured to ensure its longevity. He stressed the need for greater scientific attention, particularly in integrating the language with modern technology and artificial intelligence.
“In today’s world, language is not something that can simply be bought in a marketplace,” he stated. “To establish Kurdish as a standard scientific language, it requires dedicated efforts to enrich its academic and technological standing. This cannot be achieved solely through speech or literature but demands collective work. Without such efforts, any language risks decline.”
He also underscored the fundamental mission of educational institutions worldwide—to develop capable and competent individuals. He encouraged students to master multiple languages alongside their mother tongue and emphasized the importance of establishing a standardized Kurdish language that unites all dialects.
On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, President of Cihan University-Erbil, also delivered a speech in which he welcomed the guests، then talked about the role of the university in the preservation and development of the language.
“From the very first day of its establishment, Cihan University-Erbil was not only dedicated to educating students in specialized fields and awarding degrees but also to fostering language learning,” Dr. Dalo stated. “We have worked diligently to ensure that every student at our university, in addition to their mother tongue, gains proficiency in another language—especially English.”
In another part of his speech، Prof. Al-Delawi said: “We are pleased that the idea of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cihan Universities، at the level of all the universities of the Kurdistan Region، we were able to establish the Kurdish Language Center at Cihan University، and this is one of the main tasks of our university to protect and introduce the Kurdish language to other nations and countries and to tell them that we also have history، philosophy، culture and language، so I thank Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajger for developing this idea. I would like to thank the faculty and staff of this institution who are involved in a variety of activities.”
During his speech، Prof. Dr. Amjad Sabir Al-Delawi said: “The abundance of Kurdish dialects is a sign of the richness of our language، so we should take advantage of the richness of our language and develop it further in the fields of communication، work and science، and therefore one of the main tasks of the Kurdish Language Center of Cihan University should work in these three directions to further develop the Kurdish language.
As part of the International Mother Language Day ceremony, Mr. Hawkar Hama Faraj, Director of the Kurdish Language Center at Cihan University-Erbil and event organizer, delivered an inspiring speech.
Mr. Hawkar extended heartfelt congratulations to the Kurdish-speaking community on Mother Language Day, celebrating the significance of the Kurdish language in preserving cultural identity. He also took the opportunity to reflect on the academy’s achievements over the past year, sharing details of its work and activities.
