Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Fatoumata Bah Barrow, First Lady of the Republic of the Gambia, and her accompanying delegation, during her visit to ICESCO Headquarters, on Friday, December 1, 2023, to take part in the opening of the 6th edition of the Pioneering Women Oscar.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik welcomed the First Lady to ICESCO and reviewed the main aspects of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, as well as its activities, programs and initiatives, particularly on capacity building and skills development for women and girls, stressing that they are top priority at ICESCO given their essential role in the development of societies throughout the Islamic world.

For her part, the First Lady of the Republic of the Gambia commended ICESCO’s efforts in developing the fields of education, science and culture in its Member States, expressing her willingness to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and the Gambia in the implementation of joint programs and projects to support and develop basic education and combat school dropout among girls.

After the meeting, Dr. AlMalik took Ms. Fatoumata Bah Barrow on a tour of ICESCO Headquarters, where she learned about the Organization’s working mechanisms, its major programs and projects, and the development and modernization of its organizational structure.

Afterward, the First Lady of The Gambia visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO Headquarters, as part of a strategic partnership with the Muslim World League (MWL) and the Mohammadia League of Scholar.