On 7 November 2026, an awareness-raising meeting entitled “An eternal epic of heroism” was held at the Mingachevir Youth House to mark 8 November – Victory Day. Organised by Ilhama Ismayilova, Senior Lecturer, and Ayshan Ismayilova, Lecturer, in the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology at Mingachevir State University (MDU), the event focused on devotion to the homeland, respect for martyrs’ families and social solidarity.
The meeting’s main objective was to convey the significance of the historic Victory to young people, honour the cherished memory of the martyrs, and strengthen students’ commitment to national and moral values and their sense of social responsibility. The event also aimed to strengthen communication between young people, martyrs’ families and war veterans, as well as moral bonds between generations.
The event began with the playing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. A minute of silence was observed in honour of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Professor Flora Namazova, Deputy Dean of MDU’s Faculty of Education, delivered a speech on “Victory and youth: pride passed on to future generations”, discussing the role of the historic Victory in the national and moral education of young people. She emphasised the importance of passing the legacy of Victory on to future generations and preserving examples of heroism.
Ilhama Ismayilova, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, discussed the impact of meetings with martyrs’ families on students’ moral education and emotional development. Ayshan Ismayilova, Lecturer in the same department, delivered a speech on “For the homeland: sacrifice and individual responsibility”, highlighting the importance of devotion to the homeland, civic commitment and individual responsibility.
Humay Bakhishova, a club instructor at the Mingachevir Youth House’s Patriotism Club, spoke about the courage and sacrifice demonstrated by the heroes who contributed to the Victory. Club member Javid Mustafayev emphasised that the martyrs’ lives serve as examples for young people.
Patriotic War veteran Aygun Tahirova delivered a speech on “The gentle strength of the Iron Fist: memories of a female war veteran”, sharing her combat experiences and wartime memories with the participants.
Najiba Karimova, the wife of martyr Ulvi Karimov, spoke about his life and combat service. A video dedicated to the cherished memory of Ulvi Karimov was then screened.
Ramal Mahmudov, Chair of the Student Youth Organisation at MDU’s Faculty of Education, delivered a speech on “The Iron Fist – the triumph of national unity and resolve”, noting the importance of young people uniting around the values of national unity and actively participating in public life.
The awareness-raising meeting helped strengthen students’ historical memory, consideration for martyrs’ families and war veterans, and values of mutual support and solidarity. Bringing together the university and the local youth community through cooperation, the event contributed to young people’s civic education and the development of their sense of responsibility towards society.