President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the unveiling ceremony of a monument to architect Ajami Nakhchivani at the “Ajami Seyrangahi” recreation complex in Nakhchivan city on August 11.

People’s Artist Salkhab Mammadov, one of the authors of the monument, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the monument.

This year marks the 900th anniversary of the birth of Ajami Nakhchivani, a prominent representative of Azerbaijani architecture and the founder of the Nakhchivan architectural school.

Last year, President Ilham Aliyev signed an Order on measures related to the celebration of the 900th anniversary of Ajami Nakhchivani, including the erection of a monument in his honor.

The monument complex was created to showcase the rich architectural heritage of the great Azerbaijani architect Ajami Nakhchivani through a modern approach.

The monument was created by People’s Artists Salkhab Mammadov and Ali Ibadullayev, together with Heydar Ahmadov, Chairman of the Union of Architects of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The statue is 270 centimeters high, while the pedestal is 90 centimeters high, bringing the total height of the monument to 385 centimeters. The statue is made of bronze, while the pedestal is made of granite. Landscaping works were also carried out, and green areas were established on the grounds of the complex.

Preserving the memory of architect Ajami Nakhchivani, who played a vital role in the development of medieval Azerbaijani architecture, is primarily a manifestation of the Azerbaijani state’s commitment to safeguarding the brilliant legacy of its historical figures. The implementation of this project is also one of the important measures aimed at passing their achievements on to future generations.

On the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the 850th anniversary of Ajami Nakhchivani was solemnly celebrated in Azerbaijan in 1976. Today, the inclusion of his 900th anniversary in the list of UNESCO anniversaries plays an important role in promoting Azerbaijan’s centuries-old cultural heritage more broadly at the international level.