in october 2014, jawari and minister of culture and higher education duale adan mohamed officially opened the first academic year of the somali national university in mogadishu. the institution was established in 1974, but later closed down operations in 1991 after the collapse of the central government and the start of the civil war. it was subsequently refurbished and reopened in 2014 after a federal government plan was approved by the cabinet. speaking at the university's inauguration ceremony, jawari described the institution as a pillar of the national education system and noted that it produced many graduates who would go on to assume important leadership positions in the country. he also urged the new pupils to take advantage of the opportunity at hand, and encouraged them to actively participate in the post-conflict reconstruction initiatives. mohamed in turn emphasized the federal government's commitment to promoting higher education.