The University of Tetova, on March 8th – International Women’s Day, unveiled the commemorative plaque of Mrs. Drita Sahiti at the Faculty of Business Administration building in Kumanovo. With the unveiling of this plaque, the University of Tetova immortalized her name and work as a permanent symbol of sacrifice for knowledge and education.
The ceremony was declared open by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Prof. Dr. Llokman Hebibi, who said that the memorial plaque of Mrs. Drita Sahiti will be a symbol of our university and in particular of the Faculty of Business Administration in Kumanovo. He further added that our university has always known how to respect all those activists who have contributed and left their mark in the 30-year history of the University of Tetova.
The Rector of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Jusuf Zejneli, emphasized that today’s event is proof that the roots of the University of Tetova are very deep. The vision and mission for the foundation of the University of Tetova highlighted the most sublime sacrifice of every Albanian citizen, especially Albanian women, who endlessly supported the Albanian youth in their right to be educated in the Albanian language. On this day, we remember the contribution of Mrs. Drita Sahiti, who has left her mark in the history of the foundation of the University of Tetova.
The Vice-Rector for Finance of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Aida Yzeiri – Baftijari, on behalf of the University of Tetova, conveyed a message of congratulations to all women on the occasion of March 8th, International Women’s Day. On this occasion, she stated that gold does not only represent a means of exchange that can bring us finances or security, but the gold we hold gives us status, freedom, and the value of the heritage from which we come and where we are headed, and that is pride for us. Meanwhile, Mrs. Drita Sahiti, without hesitation, took off the gold and jewelry from her neck, so that today, as women, we can enjoy our rights. Today, after 30 years, this university has many female professors, lecturers, and students who, thanks to this contribution, enjoy their rights and are equal in society.
On behalf of the Sahiti family, a word of address was given by the son of Mrs. Drita, Prof. Dr. Blerim Sahiti. On this occasion, he expressed that this is a day filled with mixed emotions of pride and nostalgia. “I feel deeply honored and proud at this special moment, and at the same time, touched by the memories and the feelings that this event brings. On my personal behalf and on behalf of my family, I would like to express sincere thanks to the leadership of the University of Tetova and thank you from the heart for your commitment to honoring the figures who contributed in the most difficult moments of the foundation of the University of Tetova. This is a precious gesture that demonstrates respect and gratitude for those who sacrificed for our future. They, before us, paved the way for us to be here today, while it is our duty to pave the way for future generations. Mothers, women, and sisters are the heart of the family, the strength of society, and the inexhaustible source of love and sacrifice”, – said among other things Prof. Dr. Blerim Sahiti.
The Vice-Rector for Science of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti, who is also the initiator of the commemorative plaque, said that this solemn and special event has brought us together to honor an outstanding figure of humanity and sacrifice, a woman who, through her work and noble spirit, brought a new light to the journey of the University of Tetova. Drita Sahiti – Marigona of our University – represents the spirit of dedication, solidarity, and courage to support knowledge in times of challenge.
“The history of the University of Tetova is a history of dedication and sacrifice, a journey that was born from the unwavering will of many people who believed in the power of knowledge as the foundation of national progress. In this journey, many individuals made their invaluable contribution, but today we remember a special act, a gesture that represents one of the cornerstones of support for this university. The founding of the University of Tetova, beyond being a significant date in the history of Albanian education in our ethnic lands, reminds us of the determination and dedication of our parents to this institution, which for them was a national ideal. One of them – a symbol of idealism for the University of Tetova – was and will remain Mrs. Drita Bajrami-Saiti, the “Marigona” of our University, who in 1994, donated her gold jewelry to the then-Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadil Sulejmani, as a donation (contribution) for the University of Tetova. In that difficult time, this act was not just a material aid; it was a powerful message that knowledge and education should be supported with all efforts to build a brighter future for the coming generations. This was the first act of human and national contribution to the University of Tetova, a testimony to the unwavering faith in Albanian education and the power of knowledge”, – emphasized the Vice-Rector for Science, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti.
He further added that with the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, which coincides with March 8th – International Women’s Day, we immortalize the memory and contribution of Drita Sahiti, making her a permanent symbol of sacrifice for knowledge and progress. This artistic work is not just a monument, but a lasting reminder to future generations that the success of a nation is built on noble deeds and on unwavering support for education and knowledge.
