Goodbye to a Fulbright Alumnus

In the midst of all the talk about the rebel take-over of Tripoli, a story emerged that same Monday ‎that didn’t make the same headlines because it was a bit further afield of the interest of the many – ‎it’s a story from the country of Yemen. ‎

Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulghani, a former prime minister of Yemen (two times) had died from severe ‎wounds sustained in the presidential mosque bombing in June. Learning this news was a shock as well as a sad reminder of the bloodshed that comes with ‎attempts at violent change.‎

Mr. Abdulghani was an alumnus of the world’s most prestigious exchange program, the U.S. Department of State's Fulbright ‎Program. He received his higher degree in the United States–specifically in the state of Colorado. From all appearances, ‎Mr. Abdulghani exemplified the qualities of the Fulbright Program–first an educator and then a ‎leader (in this case a long-time public servant) who took the tools of exchange to work towards ‎bridging the gap between east and west. As one of Yemen's most famous Fulbrighters, he was the ‎secretary general of the Fulbright Alumni Association in Yemen; it was an honorary position but one ‎he felt keenly responsible for even when he had many other duties.‎

His belief in the value of international education and exchange extended to his pivotal role in one of ‎the most successful scholarship and corporate social responsibility programs in Yemen – the Canadian Nexen ‎Scholarship Program. His support of the Nexen Scholarship program, which sought to bring a variety ‎of the most talented youth in Yemen to pursue degrees related to the petroleum industry in Yemen ‎to a few selected institutions in Calgary, resulted in a small cadre (over 100 in over a decade of operation) of ‎talented Yemenis in that important regional industry. To date, no other oil company has achieved that level ‎of scholarship assistance in Yemen. This program also brought together people from different political, educational and personal backgrounds to include a ‎healthy number of young people without any connections. Supporting such a program, and not ‎bowing to the numerous wasta claims, demonstrated his belief in the future of Yemen with youth from all ‎backgrounds and locations.‎

What seems to be evident is that throughout his public life, Mr. Abdulghani did not lose sight of his unique opportunities in the U.S. and he ‎remained in touch with his alma mater, Colorado College, even all these many years later. It is ‎relatively well known that Mr. Abdulghani encouraged donors to support funding for young people to ‎reach the U.S. (among other countries) for undergraduate degrees. Mr. Abdulghani recognized that a ‎solid educational base for earnest and energetic Yemeni youth would help build Yemen and help it ‎face the challenges of the future. He believed that raising opportunities for even a few well-rounded ‎young people could raise the standards for all. Unfortunately, there was a whole generation (actually ‎almost two generations) after Mr. Abdulghani who did not have such exposure.‎

This is hardly a complete eulogy of Mr. Abdulghani, but with this short note we hope ‎to recognize his role in international education and exchange in Yemen. His shoes will be difficult ones to fill in ‎the future in Yemen –will any of those who returned to Yemen after their own higher education opportunities in the west share the vision of making opportunities ‎possible for others, especially if the others aren’t connected to their own families? We hope ‎so. In the meantime, "goodbye to a Fulbright alumnus.‎"