The Headquarters of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) saw on Thursday, March 24, 2022, the signing of an agreement between ICESCO and the National Commission of Nigeria to ICESCO to launch a project to combat COVID-19 through supporting innovation and youth and women leadership in partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies Foundation. ICESCO also signed an agreement with “Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala” University Center in Borno State on establishing a Training Pole for Excellence in the field of Arabic Language in Nigeria.

Both agreements were signed for ICESCO by its Deputy Director-General (DG), Dr. Abdelilah Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa. Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad Bashir, Secretary-General of the Nigerian National Commission to ICESCO, signed the agreement on the launch of the project on combatting COVID-19, while Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad, Director of the University Center, Arabic Language Village Ngala, signed the Agreement on the establishment of the Arabic Pole.

In his address during the signing ceremony, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG, reaffirmed that ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy both rely on communication with the Member States to identify their specific priorities and needs. He added that ICESCO aims, through the signing of these two agreements, to build a strong partnership with Nigeria to mitigate the impact of the COVOD-19 pandemic, within the framework of the Organization’s cooperation with its Member States to promote education, science and culture.

In this connection, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad Bashir stated that the signing of the agreement on the launch of the project to combat COVID-19 through supporting innovation and youth and women leadership in partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies Foundation marks the starting point for building broad cooperation between ICESCO and Nigeria.

For his part, Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad stated that the establishment of the Training Pole for Excellence in the field of Arabic Language in Nigeria will allow for developing the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, stressing the University Center’s keenness to build fruitful cooperation with ICESCO in this field.

The project to combat COVID-19 through supporting innovation and youth and women leadership in partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies Foundation aims to support the efforts of 10 African countries to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. As for the Training Pole, it aims to build the educational capacities and hone the skills of professionals working in the field of Arabic education in Nigeria.