President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended congratulations to Dr Aminath Zahir, who has become the first Maldivian scholar to earn a PhD in the Dhivehi language, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s academic and linguistic development.

Dr Zahir completed her Doctorate in Applied Linguistics at the Maldives National University (MNU), with her dissertation researched and written entirely in Dhivehi a first in the country’s higher education history.

President Muizzu met Dr Zahir on Monday morning at the President’s Office, where he commended her groundbreaking contribution to the advancement of Dhivehi studies. He described the achievement as a significant step toward preserving and enriching the national language, reaffirming that language and cultural preservation remain central priorities for his administration.

Dr Zahir expressed her gratitude to the President for his recognition and said she was honoured to have her work acknowledged at the national level. She added that the meeting itself underscored the President’s commitment to elevating Dhivehi language scholarship.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage Adam Naseer Ibrahim, MNU Chancellor Dr Mahmood Shauqee, and Vice-Chancellor Dr Aishath Shehenaz, who discussed the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Dhivehi research and capacity-building in the field.

Dr Zahir’s doctoral thesis focuses on strategies to promote and enhance the Dhivehi language, contributing valuable insights into language planning and cultural sustainability. During the meeting, she presented a copy of her thesis to President Muizzu.

In recognition of her historic achievement, President Muizzu presented Dr Zahir with a commemorative plaque during the official Republic Day ceremony on Tuesday, celebrating her as a pioneer in Dhivehi language research and higher education.