On the 86th anniversary of the passing of the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a commemoration ceremony was held on Sunday, November 10, 2024, in front of the Atatürk Monument at the Göztepe Campus of Marmara University.

The ceremony, which began with Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt and the accompanying delegation laying a wreath at the Atatürk Monument, was attended by academic staff, administrative personnel, and students. At 09:05, following the sound of sirens, a moment of silence was held in respect of Atatürk. Immediately after, The Turkish National Anthem was sung under the direction of Prof. Dr. Mustafa Uslu, Head of the Department of Fine Arts Education at the Faculty of Atatürk Education, Marmara University.

The ceremony continued with a speech titled “November 10, Atatürk, and Leadership” by Prof. Dr. Bülent Bakar, from the  Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In his remarks, Prof. Bakar stated, "The 86th anniversary of Atatürk's passing is a day of great mourning for the Turkish nation. While November 10th stands out primarily in this sense, it should also serve as an opportunity to try to understand Atatürk's world of ideas, what he did for his country and people, and what he aimed to accomplish."

Prof. Bakar continued, "There are turning points in the history of nations, and people who play a role in these turning points. These individuals leave their mark on the course of history and the fate of societies. They often emerge in extraordinary circumstances, and these people are referred to as leaders," and added that  'They generally emerge under extraordinary circumstances and are referred to as leaders, Of course, it is not possible to provide a detailed assessment in just a few minutes, but the 'Republic,' which Atatürk himself referred to as his greatest work, is the best and most comprehensive concept to describe Atatürk's leadership qualities.'

After elaborating extensively on Atatürk's leadership traits, Prof. Bakar added, "Atatürk was not only a leader who led and guided the Turkish nation. He was also a source of inspiration for oppressed and subjugated nations worldwide."

The November 10th Atatürk Commemoration Ceremony concluded with a group photo after Prof. Dr. Bülent Bakar's speech.