By: Latifa Yusuf Masai
LONDON (Somalilandsun) – Guul Group a UK and Somaliland registered company has been recognized as the 2013 achiever in the business category by the West London Somaliland Community-WLSC.
The 5th Somaliland Community Achievement business category for 2013 was presented to the Guul Group Chief Executive officer Mr. Mohamed Guleid at a colourful and high profile event hosted by WLSC at Brunel University in London
Speaking to Somalilandsun after the receiving the award the youthful Guul Group CEO said,
“I was absolutely delighted to have received this award as part of an important ceremony in which many had been recognized for individual accomplishments and contributions to the Somaliland community globally”
As their CEO received the business category achiever award for 2013, his team in Hargeisa who thanks to modern technology were following events live through Skype failed to hide their exuberance and visibly over the moon for the consideration and recognition of their company’s work not only in 2013 but way back since inception in London especially taking into account the number of knock-backs, barriers, challenges, set-backs; the biggest been that Guul Group is run by a young team.
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. Guleid 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 Mohamed Guleid 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 Ibrahim Haruun Baby Guul and d Kayse Mohamed
“My greatest appreciation is to the Pontus Marine Ltd team that showed confidence in the youth led Guul Group and gave us the contract to spearhead its unique public share issue in Somaliland” said Guleid who also acknowledged Yusuf M Hasan and his Somalilandsun team for helping Guul Group then UK based only find its footing in Somaliland
The youthful Guul Group CEO who is expecting his first child any time now also recognized his mother and spouse for believing in his dream of shifting base from the UK to Somaliland that resulted in them supporting and standing beside him during a turbulent time in Hargeisa whilst setting up.
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 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 Mohamed Guleid 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.
On being awarded by the WLSC Mr. Haruun said ‘Anything is possible, I want to achieve more and I can’.
For 2014 Mr. Guleid had set a challenge for all Somalilanders to sit down and actually write some goals, number 1 may be “turning up on time so that the next award ceremony could start on time”
The West London Somaliland Community based in the UK whose mission is to empower Somalilanders in West London to enable them to participate meaningfully in the society as confident citizens which is presenting the Somaliland Achievement awards in various categories for the fifth year running.
For more on WLSC visit http://www.wlsomalilandcommunity.org.uk/
