On Sunday, the TEDx Nishtiman 2025 event was held with a focus on empowering youth. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani called on the youth to believe in themselves and love their homeland.
“I am very pleased to join you today at this important event – especially one organized by young people, who represent the hope and future of our nation. I congratulate the organizers of TEDx Nishtiman and wish them continued success. Events like this inspire confidence among our youth and allow us all to better understand their potential,” Prime Minister Barzani said at the event.
At the beginning of the event, Prime Minister Barzani toured the event’s pavilions, which promoted locally produced products.
“He was happy with this Kurdish product,” said Hawre Salim from Meer Brand, which sells traditional Kurdish headgear, also known as Jamadani, which was showcased at the Pavilion. “This is our first time participating in TEDx Nishtiman. We want to make our brand more known, which is why we are introducing it.”
During his speech, KRG Prime Minister Barzani spoke about the projects and services the KRG has delivered to its citizens in recent years, including 24/7 electricity, water projects, and the My Account financial services program.
He urged the youth of Kurdistan to take pride in themselves, emphasizing that all the government’s achievements were made possible through the hard work and determination of the region’s youth.
“My message to all our young people, at home and abroad, is that you can achieve any dream you set your minds to.
“I must stress that much of this progress has been achieved by the youth of Kurdistan. Every project I mentioned – from energy and water to roads and digital services – has been built by our own young people, many of whom resisted attempts to discourage them and chose instead to serve their homeland.
Rawand Hussein, founder of TEDx Nishtiman, said that the goal of the event is to build a stronger Kurdistan and support youth.
“TEDx and every conference are platforms for solving issues in society, in groups, and across the region,” he said.
He also announced a youth hub that will soon be inaugurated in the Kurdistan Region. “We are here today for the youth of Kurdistan. We have faced many problems, like having no dedicated spaces for youth. But now, the youth hub will serve all young people in the future.”
Hussein also told Kurdistan Chronicle that a total of 100 volunteers participated, and that over 1,200 attendees joined the event.
Dr. Ghaith al-Abdallah, Associate Professor in School of Management and Economics at the University of Kurdistan Hewler, who spoke at the event, said he has never seen as many students interested in starting their own business anywhere else, despite teaching in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UK.
“The numbers are really remarkable, and the majority have really good business ideas. At one point, I had to come to the university on Saturdays to meet the students and provide them with guidance and consultation, because the regular office hours were not enough during the week,” he told Kurdistan Chronicle.
During the event, Prime Minister Barzani also spoke with several Kurdish youth. “Before I came here, two young people asked me for advice. I told them two things: first, love your country; second, believe in yourselves.”
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This message was also shared by one Yezidi survivor, Shireen Khero, who was in ISIS captivity in the past, but graduated last year from the American University of Duhok. “People often think courage means not being afraid. But true courage is different. Courage is feeling fear and still taking one step forward,” she said.
The youngest speaker at the event, Parez Pasawan – who lost her father, a Peshmerga, in the fight against ISIS – also underlined the importance of endurance and to continue life in difficult times.
At the end, KRG Prime Minister Barzani underlined the importance of youth in supporting national development.
“If we look at the developed countries of the world, no one else came to build them – it was their own young people who did it. We are no less capable than they are. But there are always forces that try to make our youth lose hope, distance themselves from their homeland, and stop believing in it. Our answer to them is this: the youth of Kurdistan value this land more than anyone, because it is nourished with the blood of our martyrs and sanctified by their sacrifice.
“I am happy to see hundreds of talented young people gathered here today to share ideas, showcase their achievements, and show us that our future is in safe hands,” he concluded.
