A delegation from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a series of meetings with several officials from the Cameroon National Commission and Ministry of Culture, during which they explored ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and Cameroon in the Organization’s areas of competence, and reviewed the outcomes of the programmes and activities held as part of the celebration of Yaoundé as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022.

The ICESCO delegation, comprising of Mr. Najib Rhiati, Cultural Advisor to ICESCO Director-General (DG), and Dr. Mahamat Abba Ousman, Expert at ICESCO’s Culture and Communication sector, held the first meeting on Saturday, 4 February 2023, with Mr. Abdoul-Aziz Yaouba, Secretary-General of the Cameroon National Commission, and Mrs. Stadjem Sawudi, Director of Festivals and Creative Industries at the Ministry of Culture and Arts, Chairperson of the Higher Committee for the celebration of Yaoundé as Culture Capital in the Islamic World, and together discussed the adoption of the ICESCO logo, the tasks of the Cameroon National Commission based on the decision of the Cameroonian Prime Minister, and the Commission’s coordination with various ministries to propose joint ICESCO-Cameroon programmes and projects to be implemented as part of the partnership agreement to be signed between the two parties.

The delegation held an expanded meeting on Monday, 6 February 2023, at the Commission headquarters with the Commission’s Secretary-General, the Chairperson of the Higher Committee for the celebration of Yaoundé as Culture Capital in the Islamic World, Dr. Koggerson Bertha Esung, Head of the Commission’s Culture and Communication Section and a host of officials from the Ministry of Culture and Arts. The parties reviewed the fifty-two (52) activities implemented by the Ministry with its partners as part of the celebration programme.

The ICESCO delegation also reviewed the activities implemented by the Organization’s sectors until the end of January 2023 in the fields of education, culture and science. The meeting also assessed the activities that have been implemented in the field of safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage, in the presence of Mr. Abuko Mangana, Deputy Director of Heritage at the Ministry of Culture and Arts.

In a third meeting between the ICESCO delegation and the Commission’s Secretary-General and officials, the two parties explored ways to promote cooperation based on the Commission’s fields of competence and ICESCO’s new vision, which endeavors to devise development programmes and projects that meet the needs of the Organization’s Member States. For its part, Cameroon expressed its willingness to channel ICESCO’s support to the implementation of multiple projects in different fields.