The President of the Republic of Niger, H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, at the Presidential Palace in Niamey, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). The reception was attended by Dr. Daouda Mamadou Marthé, Minister of Basic Education, Literacy, the Promotion of Local Languages and Civic Education, President of the Nigerien National Commission; Mr. Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, Director of the Cabinet of the President; and Mr. Ahmat Jidoud, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance in Charge of Budget.

During this audience, Dr. AlMalik expressed his thanks to the President for the warm welcome he received during his current official visit to Niger. He also reviewed ISESCO’s new vision and discussed areas of cooperation between ISESCO and the Republic of Niger in the Organization’s areas of competence, as well as the programmes and activities scheduled for implementation over the next period.

            For his part, H.E. the President of the Republic of Niger reaffirmed the importance of cultural diplomacy and the need to work on exporting the enlightening Islamic culture, given culture’s effective role in facing extremist thought. He added that some young people fall prey to terrorism, which has unfortunately become a phenomenon in some societies as a result of the absence of culture and good education.

            In addition, the President maintained that African countries suffer from a myriad of problems, stating that unless these countries manage to develop their educational systems, they will not be able to keep up with the advances taking place in the world at the social level and with regard to technological advancement.

Likewise, the President highlighted the importance of international organizations and commended the work of ISESCO and its role in globally publicizing Islamic culture, promising that cooperation between the Organization and Niger will be very fruitful. He also stated that he will genuinely support the Organization and instructed the Minister of Finance to pay the full contribution of Niger to ISESCO.

            At the close of the audience, the President of the Republic thanked ISESCO Director General for the Organization’s initiative to launch a medical, educational and social caravan in one of the Nigerien villages in end of March 2020. He also welcomed holding the Organization of the Gathering of the First Ladies of ISESCO African Member States in Niger in March 2020, in cooperation between the Government of Niger and the Organization.

The Meeting was attended by Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Director of Human and Social Sciences, and Mr. Zakaria Mohamed Rabany, Programme Specialist at the Directorate of Human and Social Sciences.