Category: News update

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.

(In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.)
“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure — who, when faced with a disaster, say, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.” They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided.”
Truth of Allah Almighty

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the people and governments of the Republic of Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic, as a result of the sad catastrophe of the earthquake, which claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands wounded and injured, beseeching Allah Almighty to bless the deceased with his mercy and speed recovery to the injured.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, confirms that the Organization is ready to provide all the required support.

The Center of Strategic Foresight at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Science and Culture to discuss ways to promote partnership between ICESCO and the Commission in the fields of strategic foresight, AI applications and modern technologies.

The meeting was held on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and saw the participation of Mr. Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Alblihed, Secretary-General of the Saudi National Commission and Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of the ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight, who highlighted ICESCO’s vision and orientations and shed light on the major programs and projects it implements for the benefit of its Member States in its areas of competence, along with the Center’s initiatives.
The meeting also focused on proposals for future cooperation projects between the two parties, notably the Project of ICESCO’s Charter of Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse, whose broad lines were adopted by the 43rd session of the Executive Council.

The meeting also discussed several other initiatives and projects to promote cooperation between the two parties over the upcoming period.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Mohamed Ould Soueidatt, Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports and Relations with Parliament, President of the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The meeting discussed partnership developments between ICESCO and Mauritania in the fields of education, science and culture, particularly within the framework of the celebration of Nouakchott, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2023.

During the meeting, held on Monday (February 6, 2023), at ICESCO Headquarters, in the presence of Mr. Mohamed Ould Sidi Abdallah, Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Committee, and Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s keenness to support all projects and activities scheduled within the framework of the celebration of Nouakchott, Capital of Culture of the Islamic World for 2023, noting that ICESCO aims, through its Capital of Culture of the Islamic World Programme, to disseminate the true image, heritage and history of these cities to turn them into cultural destinations.

ICESCO Director-General underscored that the National Commissions for Education, Science and Culture are the channel through which the Organization communicates and coordinate with its Member States to identify the priorities and needs of each country, design appropriate programs and projects for maximum benefit, stressing ICESCO’s keenness to sustain coordination with the Mauritanian authorities concerned to achieve this goal.

For his part, Mr. Soueidatt commended ICESCO’s roles and efforts to support its Member States in the fields of education, science and culture, stressing that Mauritania supports the Organization’s initiatives, and looks forward to strengthening cooperation and partnership in light of the celebration of Nouakchott, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2023.

Afterward, the two parties held an expanded meeting in the presence of ICESCO officials, where they reviewed the proposed programs and projects for cooperation between ICESCO and Mauritania in the upcoming period, which reflects their keenness to ensure the success of this partnership.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to continue coordination between ICESCO and the Mauritanian National Commission to develop implementation plans for the agreed-upon programs, projects and activities.

The Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the workshop on smart cities and education, held by the National School of Business and Management in Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco, to examine the mechanisms to promote the integration of the concept of smart cities in educational curricula and the related challenges.

During the workshop, held on Thursday, February 2, 2023, Dr. Foued El Ayni, Programs Manager at the Science and Technology Sector, made a remote presentation on the challenges and opportunities related to smart cities, wherein he stressed the need to promote sustainable cities to protect the environment and raise awareness among children and youth in the Islamic world on the importance of these cities.

For his part, Dr. Adel Smeda, expert at the same Sector, reviewed the mechanisms to promote innovation, scientific research and modern technology, and benefit from AI applications in the development of smart and sustainable cities. He also presented several initiatives and projects implemented by ICESCO in the field of digital transformation.
In conclusion, the workshop called for joint action to cooperate and invest in smart cities and develop smart education initiatives within and outside the Islamic world.

Ambassador Khaled Fateh Al-Rahman, Head of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the symposium “Cairo, Culture Capital of the Islamic World for 2022,” which was held within the activities of the 54th session of the Cairo International Book Fair.

Ambassador Fateh Al-Rahman began his Address by thanking the Ministry of Culture and the General Book Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the invitation to attend this event. He reviewed ICESCO’s programme to celebrate culture capitals of the Islamic world, explaining the significance and objectives of ICESCO’s interest in the activities of culture capitals and stressing that Cairo is worthy to be celebrated due to its historical cultural potential, and its appropriate infrastructure.

He highlighted the intensity of the activities that were carried out during the celebration of Cairo as Culture Capital of the Islamic world, which exceeded one hundred and sixty activities and represent a unique experience that deserved appreciation.

The ambassador then answered the questions posed by the audience at the end of the symposium, which was moderated by Dr. Hassan Madani, the Egyptian thinker and journalist.

On the sidelines of the symposium, Channel 2 of Egyptian TV hosted the Director of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue in a special program that dealt with the Organization’s experience in the field of celebrating culture capitals of the Islamic world.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Forum Celebrating Arabic Language for Islamic Peoples, held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on Thursday (February 2, 2023), at the headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat, in cooperation with King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language, under the patronage of HRH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Forum began with the opening remarks of Mr. Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Djibouti’s permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Dr. Saleh bin Hamad Al-Suhaibani, permanent representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, Secretary-General of King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language; and Mr. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, OIC Secretary-General.

Dr. Majdi Haj Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, represented the Organization via videoconference, delivering an address on “ICESCO’s efforts to strengthen the international presence of the Arabic language,” where he reviewed the Organization’s key contributions to the advancement of Arabic in various fields and strengthening its presence at all local and international levels.

He indicated that ICESCO’s new vision stresses the importance of the Arabic language, adopts modern technologies and mechanisms, and attracts human capital to disseminate the Arabic language all over the world.

The forum shone a light on the abundant contributions of international organizations and institutions working in the field of the Arabic language to promote its position, enrich cultural and linguistic diversity, and enhance knowledge production in Arabic.