Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s Transitional President, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), at the Presidential Palace, in Libreville. The meeting was attended by several Gabonese ministers and officials, as well as Dr. AlMalik’s accompanying delegation.
At the beginning of the meeting, held on Tuesday, January 11, 2023, Dr. AlMalik extended his congratulations to Gen. Nguema for the remarkable stability, peace, coexistence, and tangible development witnessed in Gabon during the transitional period. He further reiterated ICESCO’s keenness to enhance cooperation with Gabonese institutions through the implementation of projects and programs in the fields of education, science, and culture.

Dr. AlMalik provided an overview of the outcomes of his meeting with Dr. Hervé Ndoume Essingone, Gabonese Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technological Innovation, most notably the agreement to strengthen cooperation between the Organization and Gabon in the upcoming period.

Moreover, he put forth a series of proposals for collaborative activities and programs in areas of mutual interest, in line with ICESCO’s vision and Gabon’s objectives to develop and modernize the fields of education, science, and culture, focusing on building the capacities of youth, providing leadership training for peace and security, supporting women, addressing school dropout rates, and protecting children.

On his part, Gen. Nguema commended ICESCO’s efforts and its innovative initiatives aimed at serving its Member States in education, science, and culture.

Furthermore, he expressed his commitment to closely follow the Organization’s work in the period ahead, instructing officials to promptly settle Gabon’s overdue contributions to ICESCO’s budget for the current year.

As the close of the meeting, the Gabonese President presented Dr. AlMalik with a valuable collection of books about Gabon. In return, Dr. AlMalik presented him with the Organization’s shield.

The meeting saw the presence of Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO Social and Human Sciences Sector, and Dr. Juste Tindy-Poaty, Expert in the same sector.