WTI Announces First Cohort of Somalilander Scholars

WTI scholars Abdisalaan Guleid (second from left) and Abbas Abdirahman (third from left) at a welcome event with WTI’s Somaliland Programme Coordinator Sahra Hassan (fourth from left) and Director of Somaliland’s Higher Education Commission Adam Jama Du’aale (centre).

WTI is proud to support its first cohort of Somalilander students who will be pursuing their postgraduate degrees in Uganda.

Guleid Shaqale, Abdisalaan Guleid and Abbas Abdirahman will be attaining degrees in education and health from Bugema University.

The three scholars were among more than 50 candidates applying for the James Aryam scholarship, which covers eligible students’ tuition and accommodation fees, living expenses and relocation costs, while also providing a monthly stipend.

Abbas Abdirahman, 27, who will be pursuing his Master’s in Education Management, said: “I feel a deep sense of responsibility because, through this scholarship, we represent not only ourselves but also our country and people.

“I am thankful to WTI for the opportunity.”

This is the first year that Somalilanders have been open to the programme, underscoring WTI’s commitment to unlocking long-term potential across the country’s education and health sectors. By centring scholarships within the East Africa region, WTI aims to shed the Eurocentric approach of sending scholars to the UK to better support the developmental needs of East and the Horn of Africa by keeping scholars rooted in the East African community throughout their studies.

Abdisalaan Guleid (left) and Abbas Abdirahman (right) are two of the three Somalilander scholars to receive WTI scholarships to pursue their postgraduate studies.

Abdisalaan Guleid, 38, who will be studying for his MSc in Public Health, said: “WTI’s application and interview process was extremely transparent and incredibly professional. I also felt very supported throughout the document verification and visa processes.”

Prior to these three scholars, the well known Somalilander businessman and philanthropist Ismail Ahmed, who founded the global money transfer company WorldRemit, received partial funding from WTI (which was then the Hugh Pilkington Charitable Trust) to complete his PhD studies in the UK.

Director of Somaliland’s Higher Education Commission Adam Jama Du’aale said that WTI was doing a “great job” in providing scholarships and education programmes to Somalilanders and said: “The higher education commission is committed to supporting and partnering with WTI.

“To our scholarship winners, congratulations and well wishes. Through this scholarship, WTI has invested not only in you but also in the country, so we thank WTI for the great initiative.”