The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Government of the Republic of Gabon signed a partnership agreement to implement joint projects and programs in the fields of education, science and culture over the period between 2024 and 2028.

At the beginning of the signing ceremony today, Wednesday (February 28, 2024) at the Organization headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Salim Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, expressed satisfaction at the signing of the agreement, aimed at developing the existing partnership between the Organization and the Republic of Gabon, stressing that it will be a fresh start for cooperation between the two sides, and a model for cooperation with ICESCO Member States, and pledged to ensure the implementation of the terms of the agreement to the fullest extent.

For his part, Dr. Hervé Ndoume Essingone, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation of the Republic of Gabon and Chairman of the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, pointed out that Gabon has a distinguished historical relationship with ICESCO, stating that this agreement is concluded following the instructions of the Transitional President of Gabon to value the partnership between Gabon and the Organization and to give new impetus to a fruitful cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture.

According to the terms of the agreement, a number of programs will be implemented, most notably the program to modernize the Gabonese educational institutions, the organization of the first ladies conference in the capital, Libreville, the hosting by Gabon of ICESCO’s next Executive Council meeting, the launch of the ICESCO-Gabon Prize for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the establishment of the ICESCO Science City, and the creation of ICESCO Chair of pharmacopoeia and traditional medicine at the University of Science and Health in Gabon, and the Chair for Women, Girls and Communities at Omar Bongo University, in addition to programs to build and upgrade the capacities of youth and women, consolidate the values of peace, promote learning the Arabic language, and train staff working in the field of heritage.