Yasin Hassan Yusuf – Head of Corporate Communications, Hormuud Telecom

I graduated in 2006 with a degree in IT and Computer Science. Later, I earned an MBA in Management from Malaysia. I have been working at Hormuud Telecom since 2005. My connection with SIMAD University began in 2002 and continues to this day.

Looking back, I think the experience at SIMAD was quite good. Despite the distractions of social media and other factors, the university has made significant strides. The milestones it has achieved are astonishing. When I joined SIMAD in 2002, the number of students, classes, and faculties was quite limited. However, this was a period when the country was recovering from the civil war, and people were eager to improve their careers and lives through education. The enthusiasm for learning was remarkable, and education was seen as a vehicle for future improvement. That was our philosophy back then.

Even in those early days, SIMAD was ahead of its time. The quality of education was very good compared to other institutions. The curriculum was strong, and we had rigorous studies in all subjects. By the time we graduated, we were well-prepared and at the top of our field. In every exam, SIMAD students consistently excelled.

In fact, the current president was the dean of SIMAD at the time. With the benefit of hindsight, I can say that he was very engaging and approachable. One vivid memory I have is that whenever a professor or lecturer didn’t show up for a class, he would sometimes step in and cover the lecture himself. His office was always open, and you could knock on his door to discuss even minor issues. He was welcoming and had a clear vision for the university.

I remember we used to have public talks and extracurricular activities, which were completely new at the time. After the collapse of the government, all services, including education and healthcare, had deteriorated. Teachers were used to focusing solely on their curriculum duties. It was unusual to have extracurricular activities, but we had sports events, public talks, and even visiting professors from abroad. Among them were our former foreign minister, Professor Abdisalam Hadliye, a sitting senator, Professor Abdi Ismail Samatar, and a current ambassador, Dr. Mohamed Sh. Doodishe. They would visit the university and give us lectures on various topics to broaden our minds and enrich our intellect.

In hindsight, those were interesting times. I believe they were far better than now in some ways. Despite the distractions we face today, life back then was slower-paced. We would go to school, come home, sleep, and repeat the cycle. It was a slower but higher-quality time.

Your environment shapes who you become. If you grow up in an environment where people are serious, have a good work ethic, and offer good advice, it reflects in your professional life, attitude, and conduct. Those experiences were the essence of who we became later in life.

Career Progression – Contributions to the Telecommunications Sector

My journey with Hormuud has been as significant as my journey at SIMAD. I joined Hormuud Telecom in September 2005 through a fair and equitable recruitment process. We had to pass an exam, followed by two rounds of interviews, before being selected. Since then, I have had a dynamic career, changing my profession multiple times during my 18-plus years at Hormuud Telecom.

Initially, I worked as a radio network engineer. With my degree in ICT, it was the closest I could get to working in the telecom field, as there were no telecom engineering courses in Somalia at the time. Those with degrees in ICT or computer science were considered the most qualified for such roles. We received on-the-job training that lasted about six to nine months, working alongside both Somali nationals and foreigners. The network infrastructure you see today was set up back in 2005 and 2006, and I was fortunate to be one of the engineers involved in its creation.

After about three years in engineering, I transitioned to marketing, which is a completely different side of the business. However, to effectively sell telecom services, it helps to have an engineering background. I was fortunate to be chosen for the marketing department, where my superiors were very welcoming and taught me a lot about the business. My experience and knowledge in marketing were initially limited, but I was eager to learn. I read many marketing books and, with the guidance of my managers, became a proficient marketer.

Subsequently, I moved to different departments. I worked in the back office dealing with international carriers, and then I joined a newly established quality department. In this role, we led the company to become the first in Somalia to receive the ISO 9001 management systems certificate. After that, I returned to the marketing department and eventually moved to the corporate affairs department, where I am currently in charge.

It has been a rewarding journey during which I have learned a lot. I have been lucky to learn, reflect, and strive to improve people’s lives, continually working to better myself and my society.

Throughout my career, I have continued to study and grow. I maintain a daily reading routine, consuming books and articles to stay up-to-date. Continuous learning, I believe, is essential for a successful career. While I’m not yet where I aspire to be, I am constantly working on self-improvement with the hope of bettering my society. Studying is a noble pursuit, and I wish everyone would engage in it more. Even if we think we are doing enough, there’s always room for improvement.

Maintaining the SIMAD Family Bond

I maintain frequent contact with SIMAD University. In my role as Head of Corporate Affairs at Hormuud Telecom, part of my job is to maintain good relationships with reputable institutions. This professional duty complements my personal affiliation with the university. Many of my friends hold top positions there, including the rector, whom I respect greatly. We often speak on the phone, and I sometimes visit his office. I cherish my connection with SIMAD and wish I could interact with the university even more frequently.

Looking ahead, I believe SIMAD University will continue to significantly impact Somalia and the wider region. Over its 25-year history, SIMAD has already made a substantial contribution to society. It was once rare to find professionals capable of handling tasks like accounting or computer programming, let alone leading institutions or large organisations. Today, SIMAD alumni are present in every sector, both public and private. They head departments and institutions, serve as senior managers in private companies, and occupy ministerial roles. Given this track record of producing quality leaders, I am confident that SIMAD’s future contributions will be even more significant. The improvement in the quality of graduates suggests a promising future for Somalia’s development and the region as a whole.

Favourite Recollections

When I started at SIMAD in 2002, there was virtually no internet. That year, I set up my first email account. We used to walk three or four kilometres to reach an internet café, where we would pay a fortune for just one hour of internet access. When lecturers assigned homework or heavy projects, it was a real struggle. Then, there was the issue of needing a home computer, which required going elsewhere to find one. Printing out assignments added to the list of challenges.

In late 2003, SIMAD organised its first cultural week. One of the remarkable activities was the outreach conducted by the dean, now the incumbent president, and other senior managers. They persuaded the entire business sector to come to the SIMAD campus, set up shops, and offer various services. One of the shops, Beder Electronics, offered a discount on computer purchases. I saved some money, and with the support of my mother—Allah bless her—I was able to buy my first computer in 2003. It was very expensive, costing me $320, a significant amount at the time.

Initially, I didn’t have a desk for my computer, so I used the floor of my room. After a few weeks, I managed to get a desk, and six months later, I got my first printer. Coming from a poor background, owning a computer and a printer in 2003 and 2004 was a rarity. With my new setup, I could easily complete my homework and assignments. I even invited classmates to my home to use the computer for their work. This experience is something I remember very vividly; it was truly special.

That computer was later passed on to my younger brother, who also graduated from SIMAD using the same machine. I wish I still had it today—I would put it in a museum. Unfortunately, I lost it during the wars that followed.

Interestingly, two of my siblings, my younger sister and brother, also graduated from SIMAD. As their elder brother, they looked up to me and were inspired to attend the same university. They both completed their undergraduate degrees and now hold postgraduate degrees as well.

The notion that SIMAD is becoming a generational institution is not just a possibility; it is a reality. Somalia is a young nation, having gained independence in the 1960s. Unfortunately, our government collapsed in 1991, and we lacked sustainable institutions. Therefore, having a multi-generational institution like SIMAD is something to be proud of. It is a new phenomenon for the country, and we hope it continues this way. It gives me hope to see institutions like SIMAD and Hormuud Telecom going multi-generational, which is unprecedented in our country. For example, Al-Azhar University is a 900-year-old institution, and Oxford is another ancient institution on the other side of the globe. We did not have such experiences. So, having a multi-generational institution in a young country like ours is indeed something to be proud of.

This trend is not limited to the education sector. We see it in the private sector and hopefully in public institutions across different sectors of our economy. This multi-generational continuity, in my opinion, is one of the benefits brought about by privatisation in Somalia. Previously, our governance system was socialist, with everything owned by the government. Now, with privatisation, the responsibility has shifted to individuals, which I believe Somali people are capable of handling. SIMAD and other institutions are the brainchildren of Somali people, proving that we are capable of running our country in a modern way.

Impactful Strides of Hormuud Telecoms

The telecom sector in Somalia has undergone a remarkable journey. For instance, Hormuud Telecom was established in 2002, the same year I joined SIMAD. Since then, we have introduced advancements like the 2G GSM network, followed by 3G, 4G, and now 5G. Currently, Hormuud Telecom covers up to 97% of the population with state-of-the-art services like 4G and 5G. We recently rolled out 5G in major cities such as Mogadishu, Kismayo, Galkayo, Baidoa, Dhuusamareeb, Beledweyne, Afgoye, Mrsa, and Dhobley.

During the turmoil in 2011, we pioneered a mobile money service that promotes financial inclusion by offering free transactions. This innovation accelerated the adoption of fintech services, and I believe Somalia is poised to become the first cashless country in Africa. Currently, mobile money penetration exceeds 86%, with the remaining 14% expected to adopt our fintech service, EVC Plus, within the next few years. I foresee Somalia achieving full cashless status in less than two years.

Our network infrastructure has been crucial in supporting these developments. We introduced the first broadband fibre optic connections that link Somalia internationally, providing high-speed, low-latency internet for homes and mobile networks. Mobile networks now play a pivotal role, supporting a wide array of apps and sectors across the economy.

One challenge we face is the low purchasing power of the population. However, with improvements in economic conditions, Somalia is well-positioned to capitalise on the technological advancements we have rolled out, which will in turn accelerate the country’s economic recovery.

Our mobile money service, EVC Plus, serves as a driving force for the Somali economy. It has facilitated the emergence of eCommerce, particularly social commerce where many individuals, especially women, use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to sell products and receive payments through EVC Plus mobile money. This innovation has catalysed growth in various sectors of the economy, positioning Somalia favourably for further development.

In conclusion, Somalia and its entrepreneurs are leveraging the technological platforms we provide to leapfrog into a future of economic prosperity and technological advancement.