106th celebration program of April 23 National Sovereignity and Children’s Day, organized by Zonguldak Governorship and hosted by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) was held with painting exhibition, poetry recitals and music performances, and flag shows, prepared by students.

The program organized at Sezai Karakoç Cultural Center on Farabi Campus, was attended by Zonguldak Governor Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu and his wife Güney Hacıbektaşoğlu, Zonguldak Mayor Tahsin Erdem and his wife Hande Erdem, Chairman of Judicial Commission of the Courthouse Birtan Şeker, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer and his wife Seran Özölçer, as well as the city dignitaries, academics, teachers, students, and their families.

April 23 Themed Paintings Drew Great Attention

Before the program, the exhitibition including the April 23 themed paintings prepared by the students was visited. City dignitaries were informed on the paintings by teachers and examined the works in detail.

Late Students Who Lost Their Lives Kahramanmaraş Were Commemorated

The program opened with a moment of silence for our honorable martyrs and singing of the National Anthem. The Holy Qur’an was recited for those who lost their lives as a result of sad events in Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa. The program gave the audience emotional moments, while those who lost their lives were commemorated. Following the Qur’an recitation, the message of the Minister of National Education for the April 23 was shared with the audience.

Top Ranking Students Were Presented with Their Awards

The program concluded with the presentation of the awards for the students who ranked in the painting, poetry, and composition competitions.

Rector Özölçer: “It Is an Honor to Experience the Joy of April 23 with Children”

BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer stated the following in his remarks on the ceremony:

“We are delighted to celebrate the 106th anniversary of the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day with such a meaningful and heartfelt program hosted by our university. Sharing in the joy of our children—the guarantee of our future—and being part of their excitement and happiness is a great source of pride for us.

Today, within the scope of our program, we also commemorated with prayers and remembrance our teachers who were martyred in attacks on schools in Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa, as well as our children who lost their lives. May God never let our nation experience such pain again. I wish God’s mercy upon our martyrs and extend my condolences and patience to their grieving families.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to our Governor, Mr. Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu, as well as to our Governorship and the Provincial Directorate of National Education for their valuable contributions to the realization of this meaningful program. I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated teachers who contributed to the preparation of the program and to our dear students who added meaning to this beautiful event.

April 23 is a blessed day gifted to children by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, and it belongs to our children who will shape the future. We must always strive to raise our children as well-equipped individuals who are committed to their national and moral values.

On this occasion, I sincerely celebrate the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day of all our children and wish them a future filled with health, happiness, and success.”