Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

Baku State University (BSU) Chemistry Faculty, with the support of the Student Youth Organization, organized the event “Independent Azerbaijan: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.” The purpose of the event was to highlight the historical significance of the restoration of Azerbaijan’s state independence, as well as to foster respect for national and moral values and strengthen patriotism among students.

The event began with the performance of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan and a one-minute silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country’s territorial integrity. Taleh Qəhrəmanov, Deputy Dean for Social Affairs and Student Work at the Chemistry Faculty, opened the event and spoke about the challenging but honorable stages of Azerbaijan’s path to independence. He noted that the Azerbaijani people established an independent state at the beginning of the 20th century, opening an important historical chapter. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, founded on 28 May 1918, was the first democratic republic in the East and the Islamic world, laying the foundation for independence, freedom, and state-building traditions. Although the Republic lasted only 23 months, its experience in state-building became one of the ideological and political pillars of modern Azerbaijan.

Qəhrəmanov emphasized that the adoption of the “Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan” on 18 October 1991 marked the realization of the nation’s aspirations for freedom and the beginning of a new stage in national statehood. He highlighted that, in the early years of independence, Azerbaijan faced severe political and economic crises, as well as military aggression by Armenia. However, the return of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to power restored stability, development, and state-building processes. Despite the loss of some territories during the First Karabakh War, the idea of independence remained unshaken. Under the leadership of Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev, the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 restored Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, strengthening independence and demonstrating the power of the state. Currently, the country is implementing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, moving toward a stronger and modern state.

The event continued with active student participation. Third-year student Nəzrin Ağazadə recited a poem dedicated to independence, and second-year student Ayna Kazımova gave a speech on “18 October – Restoration of Independence Day.” The event concluded with the screening of a video celebrating the restoration of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s state independence.

SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)