Awards and Recognition
The 5th Somaliland Community Achievement business category for 2013 was presented to the Guul Group Chief Executive officer Mr. Mahamed-Guled at a colourful and high profile event hosted by WLSC at Brunel University in London
Back in London the Guul Group chief honcho who was himself basking in glory for the recognition which comes a short while after managing to spearhead the public issue of Pontus Marine Ltd shares worth $5m which was and remains the first of its nature in Somaliland at the very short span of less than four months.
According to Mr. Guled the entire process of the Pontus Marine ltd share issue, novel in Somaliland, the main query of each and sundry was ‘how can you possibly raise $5m when you are this young, you don’t have a beard or big belly’ Said he, This and similar remarks went a long way in creating a defying and determined team of youngsters from the Diaspora and inside Somaliland intent on success thence become a role model for others”
While thanking the WLSC for its recognition of these efforts amid insurmountable hurdles Mahamed-Guled said the Guul Group achievement could not have been realized without the dedication and commitment of a number of team players among them Hassan Ahmed , Daud Haruun Baby Guul and Kayse Mohamed
“My greatest appreciation is to the Pontus Marine Ltd management that showed confidence in the youth led Guul Group and gave us the contract to spearhead its unique public share issue in Somaliland, Canada and Australia”
Envisaging 2014 to be an even better year for his fledgling youth led and managed company the Guul Group founder and CEO who emphasized the importance of supporting and encouraging the youth of Somaliland, Somalia and Horn of Africa in general said “it’s imperative that we give the youth a chance, promote entrepreneurship, create platforms in which our youth can come together, generate ideas, share ideas, craft businesses with support, guidance as well as investments. Our youth need to be nurtured and pressed forward to take risks and not conformed to status quo.
High profile guests such as the Mayor and the Mayoress of the London Borough of Hillingdon Councilor Markham and Mrs. Markham, the Minister of Investment and Commerce of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar, the Head of the Somaliland Mission in UK Ambassador Ali Aden Awale, Councilors, traditional leaders and representative from a wide range of organisations were present at the ceremony.
As per his business inspiration Mahamed-Guled says it emanates from a report by a university lecturer from Chicago US, which read ‘Somali people are born entrepreneurs’ which he agrees with 100% saying “we Somalilanders are all over the world initiating ideas, businesses and investing; logistical companies, hotel chains, mining as far as Angola thus competing in a vast region like the Horn of Africa through innovation, ideas, leadership and drive”.
Urging the youth not to be cowed by remarks about age, inexperience or lack of beards or big bellies the Guul Group chief gave gthe example of the 12 years old. Hanad Ali, a 12 year old who has already published his first book published now available on Amazon and Water Stones and Mohamed Haruun who has graduated considering his inability to see making him one of the most deserving of the awards tonight.
For more on WLSC visit http://www.wlsomalilandcommunity.org.uk/