Niko Nikoladze Medal
The highest award of the Georgian Technical University, the “Niko Nikoladze Gold Medal,” has been established since 2022. Initiated by the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, it is awarded to individuals for outstanding contributions to teaching or research in the academic field.
The establishment of the “Niko Nikoladze Gold Medal” by the Georgian Technical University aims to duly honor the legacy of this great patriot and to share his contributions with future generations.
The long and productive life of Niko Nikoladze – as a public figure, journalist, scholar, politician, educator, and statesman – was marked by close interaction with prominent personalities of his time and active participation in significant political events. He maintained acquaintance, cooperation, and correspondence with Giuseppe Garibaldi, Victor Hugo, Alphonse Daudet, Émile Zola, Paul Lafargue, and others.
Niko Nikoladze was a Doctor of the University of Zurich and the first Georgian to defend a doctoral dissertation in a foreign (French) language. He was a member of the National Council of Georgia (1917–1918), the Constituent Assembly of Georgia (1919–1920), and a member of the Tbilisi and Kutaisi city councils. He was also among the first to introduce engineering and technological innovations in Georgia – this is only a brief overview of his many distinctions.
He was fluent in French, Russian, English, Italian, and German.
Initiator of the establishment of the Polytechnic Institute
Niko Nikoladze was the initiator of the establishment of the Georgian Technical University, then the Polytechnic Institute, in 1922. Together with the great Ivane Javakhishvili, he perfectly saw that for the development of the country, along with the classical or humanitarian university, there was a need for even more, other technical education, which needed an appropriate center.
“Life itself, in a few years, will show our youth that neither “mind-opening” science alone is enough if a person does not have such knowledge that can be practically applied in life, nor technical science alone if a person is mindless and does not know life, its laws, or its events, and in this way he himself resembles that old man, whose care was taught by those who were then…” – these words of Niko Nikoladze seem to be a prophecy of the future from today’s perspective…
The father of technical progress
Niko Nikoladze, with his bold plans and projects, depth and originality of engineering and economic thinking, was the father of technical progress in Georgia.
“European rules and life, European science, should be considered an example for us,” said Niko Nikoladze.
1867-1874
In 1867-1874, he built the Tbilisi-Poti railway, which was the first in Transcaucasia.
1880s
His name is associated with the development of the Tkibuli coal field in the 1880s – for this purpose he brought European specialists to Georgia.
1884-1886
His name is associated with the development of the Tkibuli coal field in the 1880s – for this purpose he brought European specialists to Georgia.
1885-1893
In particular: through his efforts, the Avchala water pipeline was organized, the horse-drawn tram – Konka was put into operation, and the reconstruction of the baths was carried out. At his insistence, a sanitary doctor was appointed in Tbilisi and a disinfection chamber was built on Madatov Island, which alleviated the difficult sanitary conditions in the city; at his suggestion, a sewage network was organized in the capital, the Veri Bridge (today’s Galaktioni Bridge) was built, and the Veri Descent (today’s Mikheil Javakhishvili Descent) was made.
After Tbilisi, there was Poti – in 1895, 52-year-old Niko Nikoladze was elected mayor of the city. For 20 years, under his leadership, the small swampy Poti turned into a modernized city with great prospects and the fastest growing economy. One of the most important projects associated with Niko Nikoladze’s name in Poti is the completion of the construction of the port.
1918
For the independence of Georgia
Niko Nikoladze’s name is associated with the declaration of independence of Georgia in 1918 and the creation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. After the declaration of independence, he headed the “National Democratic Party” he founded.
Niko Nikoladze
“I have traveled throughout Europe and spent months and years in many distinguished countries and in many distinguished societies, but everywhere and always, wherever I have been, I have had one thing in mind: to make for you, to serve you, to benefit you,” – Niko Nikoladze.