Haiba Foundation marks 20 years of Excellence Awards
The Excellence Awards celebrate not only academic achievement but also the contributions of individuals who have played a significant role in community development.
Haiba Foundation is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Excellence Awards this month, recognizing top-performing students for their outstanding academic achievements.
The award ceremony will take place on April 19, 2026, at Kibra Primary School. The event will bring together students, community members, and stakeholders to honor academic success and reaffirm a shared commitment to community development through education.
Founded in 2004 in Kibra, Haiba Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of local youth through education and mentorship. The organization was established by the late Prof. Saidi Hassan alongside other Nubian professionals, with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and low academic achievement among Nubian youth.
For nearly two decades, the Foundation has championed education and career mentorship, positively impacting hundreds of young people through voluntary and community-driven initiatives. Its annual Excellence Awards have become a cornerstone event, celebrating not only academic achievement but also the contributions of individuals who have played a significant role in community development.
Over the years, Haiba Foundation’s efforts have yielded tangible results, with an increasing number of students enrolling in universities each year and many successfully graduating. This growing success reflects the long-term impact of sustained mentorship and educational support.
The Foundation’s early beneficiaries went on to establish the Nubian University Students Organization (NUSO), which was formally registered in 2014. Since then, NUSO has evolved into a vibrant and active body, further strengthening educational support systems within the community.
Haiba Foundation runs several key programs, including the Excellence Awards event, a holiday tuition programme conducted, a Ramadhan Feeding Program, and an annual mentorship retreat—all aimed at nurturing academic growth and social responsibility.
Among the notable beneficiaries of the mentorship programme is Dr. Abdi Mohamed, Chairman of the Social Health Authority (SHA) and former Managing Director of Ladnan Hospital, whose achievements highlight the Foundation’s lasting impact.
“The founders of Haiba Foundation chose education and mentorship as tools to bring transformative change in our community’s social and economic agenda. This belief continues to drive meaningful progress, raising a generation that can stand the test of time in all spheres of life,” said board member Omar Sakwa who emphasized the importance of education and mentorship in driving transformation.