His Excellency, Mr. Adam Shareef Umar, Minister of Defence and National Security, Maldives, visited Lovely Professional University yesterday to address LPU staff and students on the topic of ‘Capacity Building and Youth Empowerment’. He came accompanied by his wife Ms. Zeenaz Adnan, and the Principle Director of Department of International Defence Cooperation and Policy, maldives, Col. Abdul Matheen Ahmed. Lovely Group Vice-Chairman Mr. Naresh Mittal welcomed the esteemed guests to the campus.
An eminent Maldivian politician, Mr. Adam Shareef is also the ‘Special Envoy’ of the President of the Maldives. Graduating from the University of East Anglia (UK) with an MA in Education, Mr. Umar started his career as a primary teacher, more than 30 years ago. Since then he has risen up the political ranks in Maldives and even served a term as the Minister of State for Education. With this background in education, the needs and aspirations of students everywhere are close to his heart, and his interest in the demands that the changing times put on students remains keen. His interaction with the students at LPU centred on encouraging them to “Be better and more responsible persons; help and educate your colleagues and class-fellows too; and help in creating a better society the world over.” Lamenting the materialistic pursuits of the 21st century, he urged the students to avoid a merely money focused and economics oriented outlook towards the future.
Mr. Umar also spoke of the strong ties between India and Maldives. “Both the countries have a long history of mutual respect and strong bonds between people and people. There has existed between India and maldives, common culture and special kinship without any conflicts, and we in Maldives believe that India is ready to help us in any crises.”
Talking about LPU, the minister said that it was one of the best universities in the world and that he hoped LPU and Maldives would come together for many capacity building projects for developing the youth of both the countries. He also shared that many of his staff members are also getting special training at LPU. The university’s Executive Deans Dr. Lovi Raj Gupta and Dr. Sanjay Modi apprised HE Adam Shareef of the different endeavours being undertaken by LPU towards capacity building and youth empowerment. Associate Director of International Affairs at LPU, Mr Aman Mittal, also shared the main dais.
Ismail, an LPU student from Maldives, pursuing B.Sc. Biotechnology here, said, “It was very inspiring to see a great leader from my country, here at LPU. We are fortunate to be at LPU, which provides us great platforms for individual growth, and guides us to be a better part of the global society.”
