2021 is marked as the 880th anniversary of the birth of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi. On January 5 by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev 2021 was declared the "Year of Nizami Ganjavi" in our country, taking into account the exceptional importance of the rich master"s creative work, which always calls people to moral perfection and instills high spiritual qualities. In this regard, Sumgayit State University has prepared a plan of events for the "Year of Nizami Ganjavi." In accordance with the plan of events, a series of events were held at SSU to study the rich heritage of Nizami Ganjavi and promote it among students.

On October 28, Sumgayit State University hosted an online international scientific conference on "Language, society, personality and Nizami Ganjavi"s creativity" dedicated to the 880th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi, a prominent representative of world literature, genius Azerbaijani poet, and thinker.

The conference was attended by scientists from Azerbaijan, the United States, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and China.

Opening the conference, the rector of the university, Professor Elkhan Huseynov, greeted the guests and participants, expressed his pleasure to see them, and spoke about the importance of the conference. The rector also noted that the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi is one of the rare personalities who opened a new page in the annals of artistic thought of mankind. That is why the brilliant heritage of the great artist, which has become an integral part of the spirituality of our people, has preserved its worthy place in the unparalleled cultural treasures of the East for centuries. Emphasizing the exceptional importance of the rich creativity of the powerful master of words and ideas, which always calls people to moral perfection and instills high moral qualities, as an achievement of human culture, the rector noted that President Ilham Aliyev declared 2021 "Nizami Ganjavi Year" in our country. He noted that the genius Nizami Ganjavi, who became famous all over the world and was considered a genius of the poetic world, and in general, is a clear example of the high value given at the state level to our classical literary heritage.

"On measures to further improve the study, publication, and promotion of the legacy of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi" adopted in 1979 on the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev. He noted that his decision created a great opportunity for the study and promotion of Nizami"s work on a new level and in a wider perspective.

Evaluating the establishment of the Nizami Ganjavi Student Scholarship at our university as one of the cultural events in this field, the rector said that the scholarship was awarded to Orujlu Nazrin, a third-year student of the Faculty of Philology.

The rector also said that the international conference "Language, society, personality and Nizami Ganjavi"s creativity" organized today at Sumgayit State University is one of the events dedicated to the anniversary of the genius. He also noted that the issue of personality, which is of special importance in the work of the great poet, the existence of the human factor in the face of the test of historical stages, the dynamic development of his inner world, moral values, position in society and so on. Such problems are also relevant for our current conference.

The rector also noted that President Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continues the political course of national leader Heydar Aliyev in all directions, also pays special attention to our national and moral values. "Before independence, we had national values, national traditions, mother tongue, literature, music that protected us as a nation," he said. The proclamation of 2019 as the “Year of Nasimi”, 2021 as the “Year of Nizami Ganjavi” and the announcement of Shusha as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan is an indicator of the successful continuation of Heydar Aliyev"s policy, as well as the value that is given not only to literature but also to culture in general and civilization. The order signed by the President on the solemn celebration of the 880th anniversary of the great poet, humanist thinker Nizami Ganjavi in our country and in the world, the proclamation of 2021 as the "Year of Nizami Ganjavi" to promote the role and place of Nizami Ganjavi"s work in the spiritual treasury aims to pass on to future generations.

Director of the Institute of Manuscripts of ANAS named after M.Fuzuli, academician Teymur Karimli delivered speech on "Historical personalities in Nizami Ganjavi"s works", academician Mohsun Nagisoylu on "Nizami Ganjavi"s place in the Middle East literature", Vice-rector for Science of Bishkek State University of Kyrgyzstan, professor Gulnara Murzaliyevna Murzakhmedova on "Poetry of Nizami Ganjavi in Kyrgyz literature ”, Kalimash Kapsamarovna Begalinova, professor of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the features of the ethical teaching of Nizami Ganjavi", Svetlana Valentinovna Snapkovskaya, Professor of the Belarusian State University of the Republic of Belarus, “Cultural Security: Actual Aspects of Research”, Professor Avtandil Mammadov, Head of the Department of Azerbaijani and Foreign Literature, Sumgayit State University, made a report on "Multicultural traditions in the works of Nizami Ganjavi", spoke about the importance of the conference, the benefits of the exchange of views and experiences between scientists from different countries.

The Executive Secretary Professor Nigar Isgandarov informed about the further work of the conference. They noted that 238 reports from more than 20 higher and secondary educational institutions of the country, 16 higher and secondary educational institutions from 11 foreign countries were selected by the Program Committee, plagiarism and compliance with the requirements of the conference were checked and 180 reports were included in the conference agenda.

The conference will last for two days in 5 sections.