From Nicosia to the World: Two Extraordinary Minds, One Powerful Message

By Mustafa Abitoğlu 

Talent? Determination? Opportunity? Perhaps all three. But above all, the courage to imagine beyond the limits of one's surroundings.
Two remarkable Turkish Cypriot scientists have recently reminded us of that possibility.
Professor Necmettin Pamir, born in Nicosia in 1953, spent decades pushing the boundaries of neurosurgery. From his medical education in Türkiye to leading institutions in Europe and America, his journey has been defined by scientific excellence and determination.
In September 2026, he received the prestigious Golden Neuron Award from the World Academy of Neurological Surgery, recognising his outstanding contributions to the field.
And just as Cyprus was celebrating his achievement, another story captured the headlines.
Professor Rıfat Atun, another son of Cyprus, had taken up the role of Dean for Education and Innovation at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a remarkable milestone for a Turkish Cypriot academic.
Two extraordinary minds. Two different journeys. One small island.
What can Cyprus learn from people who refused to think small?
Too often, our public conversations revolve around politics, economic dependence and obstacles. Those challenges are real. But must they define our imagination?
The enthusiastic response to these stories suggests something hopeful: perhaps our society is hungrier for new ideas and achievement than we assume. Perhaps we are waiting for different stories to tell.
At six, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. My father nurtured my curiosity with toys, films and computer games, which I still enjoy with the same excitement and wonder today. Yet an education system built on memorisation, and a society uncomfortable with unconventional dreams, gradually pushed that ambition aside. At 46, however, the curious child within me is still exploring.
Years earlier, Daniel Pink's bestseller A Whole New Mind had profoundly influenced my thinking. Its emphasis on creativity, empathy and imagination helped me understand why that curiosity mattered. That enduring spirit of exploration is why Yeni Kafa (A Whole New Mind) exists.
Built around three words, People. Ideas. Future., Yeni Kafa celebrates creation over consumption, contribution over titles, and achievement over excuses.
Imagine bringing minds like Pamir and Atun together with young Turkish Cypriots. What ambitions might awaken?
As I launch this weekly column, A Whole New Mind, I thank journalist Rasıh Reşat for opening a space for ideas at Cyprus Today.
The moment carries deeper meaning. The late Asil Nadir, with whom I shared a personal bond, believed in dreams reaching beyond our shores.
His dreams are also my dreams.
Perhaps the next great scientist, entrepreneur or innovator is sitting in a Nicosia classroom today. Our responsibility is to make sure that young mind never learns to settle for mediocrity.
Because the future belongs not only to those who inherit the world, but to those who dare to reimagine it.