On the centenary of our Republic, in the Mehmet Akif Ersoy Conference Hall, our students watched the founding story of the Republic with a video projection, while a warm welcome from the music club marked the beginning of the event. On this significant day, which was attended by approximately 600 people, the hope and excitement that our youth will carry into the future were palpable to everyone. At 14:00, after a moment of silence in memory of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades, and the singing of the National Anthem, the event officially began with a speech by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Bahri ŞAHİN. Our Rector emphasized the unifying power of the Republic, the fact that Atatürk entrusted the Republic to us, and that it is we who will keep the Republic alive and take it forward. He concluded his speech to the applause of the audience.
One of the most important highlighted sections of the event was the mention of the impact of the Republic and the role of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in obtaining women's legal and political rights. Atatürk emphasized the importance of women's liberation by stating, "As long as half of the society remains chained to the land, the other half can't rise to the skies." He expressed the need for extensive efforts to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities in education for women. Additionally, it was noted that Atatürk's reforms contributed to the creation and solidification of the image of "Republic Woman," and the importance of women who uphold and protect the values of the Republic was emphasized. The event also highlighted the significance of women who strengthened the Republic's qualities as a democratic, secular, and social state under the rule of law. It was emphasized that women have contributed to the development and progress of the country. The importance and trust that the Republic's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, placed in women were also emphasized. The event presented the role and contributions of Turkish women in society from the founding of the Republic to the present day. Examples of women's achievements in politics, art, science, sports, education, and other fields during the Republic era were provided.
At the "The Development of Our Republic" event, it was also mentioned that during the First World War and the years of the National Struggle, problems arose due to the shortage of industrial products, and it was expressed that many regions of our country, which was primarily an agricultural nation, experienced food shortages. However, it was emphasized that the development of our Republic was not limited to a single field. It was highlighted that Atatürk's visionary thinking led to significant advancements in various fields, and to overcome these difficulties, the establishment of factories that would produce the needed products within the country began, starting with military facilities. This proud message was passionately conveyed by the students of Istanbul Gelişim University.
 
During the event, while presenting the historical events in Atatürk's life along with their intellectual background in sections, the audience enthusiastically applauded as the IGU Youth Choir, under the direction of Asst. Prof. Aslı KAYA performed "Dağ Başını Duman Almış" and "Onuncu Yıl Marşı," and the choir students waved flags.
As part of the IGU "The Development of Our Republic" program, it was highlighted that despite feeling weak and ill, Atatürk traveled to Bursa for the opening of the Merinos Factory and attended the ball held in his honor. Atatürk believed that declining the invitation would be impolite and, with all his dignity and grace, he participated. As part of the program, there was a waltz performance showcasing Atatürk's dancing, with a dance to the song "Fikrimin İnce Gülü" by Dilara BEREKETÇİ and Gökmen ŞENSES. Following that, they demonstrated Atatürk's final dance with the folk dance "Sarı Zeybek," and at the end of the Zeybek dance, students applauded as Dilara Bereketçi and Gökmen Şenses waved the Turkish flag.
Asst. Prof. A. Yüksel BARUT concluded his speech at the "The Development of Our Republic" event as follows: "Was October 29, 1923, Monday, the day when the Republic emerged with its name and reputation, actually an outcome? Or a beginning? Or perhaps both? Yes, it was both an outcome and a beginning. It was an outcome because we had started to recognize the Republic, as it appeared to us with its name and reputation, from May 19, 1919. It led us from Samsun to Amasya, from Amasya to Erzurum, from Erzurum to Sivas, from Sivas to Ankara, and from Ankara to the İnönü Square Battlefields, where it threw us into the fire of the War of Independence. It showed us how we should fight for independence at Sakarya, without bread, without weapons. We saw the Republic as an Anatolian woman, pale but believing in victory, protecting her freedom, riding on a cart pulled by two oxen from İnebolu to Sakarya. Following this cart, we marched from Afyonkarahisar to Izmir, shattering the enemy armies who came to take our freedom with the command, 'Your First Target is the Mediterranean.' Our ancestors used to call the old sultanate 'our father, the sultan.' Because we saw an Anatolian woman marching to victory on a cart, we called the Republic 'OUR MOTHER.' The Republic is a beginning; it is a future that will last forever, and it is important for all people and humanity.
The Republic is the name of the transition of the Turkish nation from servitude to citizenship and its involvement in the administration of the country. In the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, "The Republic is a virtue, it is the most suitable form of governance for the character of the Turkish people." The REPUBLIC is to stand tall when you are called "O Turkish Youth," even when it is 90 years old. During one of his trips, when a citizen asked, "What will we do if you die?" Gazi's response was, "You are ATATÜRK." Dear participants, you are ATATÜRK; we should work to achieve this awareness. I once again remember with gratitude and reverence the founder of our REPUBLIC, Gazi Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, his comrades in the struggle, and all the martyrs who made this land our homeland with their blood. May their souls rest in peace. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for your participation, to the artists for their contributions, to the Department Heads, to the Student Clubs for their support, and to all my colleagues on the team for their efforts. I wish our state, the Turkish Nation as defined by Gazi Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, under the REPUBLIC's governance, many more centuries filled with love and respect. I sincerely hope that in the passing centuries, this great national holiday will be celebrated with even greater honors, happiness, peace, and prosperity. How fortunate is the one who can say, "I am Turkish!"
At the end of the event, students were invited to participate in an activity competition using a code displayed on the screen. They were asked questions related to "The Development of Our Republic," and the three students who provided the most correct answers and earned the highest scores were presented with gifts by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Bahri ŞAHİN. Asst.Prof. A. Yüksel BARUT recognized the efforts and contributions by presenting a plaque to the production manager, Kadir TİRYAKİ. Additionally, the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Prof. Dr. Şükran Güzin ILICAK AYDINALP, awarded a plaque to the dancers, Dilara BEREKETÇİ and Gökmen ŞENSES, for their dance performances.
The event concluded with a performance by our university’s music club, which sang Atatürk's favorite folk songs, accompanied by the enthusiastic participation of the audience.