Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters, ministers of youth and sports, representatives of several African countries and leaders of the African Youth Union (AYU), who are participating in the first edition of the Annual Consultative Dialogue for African Youth Leaders held in Rabat, where they explored ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and their countries in qualifying youth and building their capacities.

After welcoming ICESCO’s guests, Dr. AlMalik stated that as part of its vision and strategic orientation, the Organization accords special attention to youth through implementing several ambitious programs and projects aimed at building youth capacities, supporting them in the field of entrepreneurship and leadership training in peace and security, in coordination and cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States.

ICESCO’s DG pointed out the Organization’s openness to implement practical programs and projects for the benefit of its Member States and Muslim communities around the world and contribute to building prosperous societies, saying that the Organization’s charter allows non-Member States to join ICESCO as Observer States and that the Organization’s General Directorate welcomes any suggestions or ideas enriching its action.

He noted that ICESCO prioritizes the strengthening of the values ​​of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue, encourages its Member States to invest in space sciences and artificial intelligence to contribute to the development of all fields and valorizes heritage in the countries of the Islamic world, by inscribing heritage sites and elements on ICESCO’s Lists of Tangible and Intangible Heritage.

During the meeting, that brought together Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy DG, and several Heads of Sectors and Advisors in the Organization, ICESCO’s guests commended the Organization’s roles in serving its Member States and its openness to cooperation with non-Member States.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Fathallah Al-Zani, Minister of Youth and Sports of the State of Libya, Mr. Mohamed Bangura, Minister of Youth of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Tumiso Rakgare, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture of the Republic of Botswana, Ms. Juliana Ratovoson, former Minister of Youth of Madagascar, the Kenyan Deputy Minister of Finance, a representative of the Ministry of Youth in Central Africa, the President of the National Youth Commission of Ghana, AYU’s President from Burkina Faso and a member of the Union’s Executive Council from Cameroon.