Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif received, on Wednesday, Ambassador Sayed Al-Salahi, Egypt's new Ambassador to Niger. At the beginning of the meeting, the Grand Imam welcomed the Ambassador, congratulating him on assuming his new position, wishing him success and progress, stressing Al-Azhar's keenness to strengthen its role in Niger and Africa. The Grand Imam said, “Al-Azhar shoulders the responsibility of supporting the African continent in scholarly and missionary fields by sending envoys from Al-Azhar to promote its moderate approach, as well as by receiving African students and researchers to study in its ancient institutes and universities. He also highlighted the necessity of investing in Africa to achieve a better future for the coming generations, stressing Al-Azhar's readiness to train the imams of Niger at Al-Azhar International Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers to qualify them to confront extremist fatwas (religious opinions) and ideas. 

On his part, Egypt's Ambassador to Niger pointed out that he recognizes Al-Azhar's great status as a strategic centre for disseminating moderate Islamic thought in Africa and the entire world, adding that he will work hard to promote Al-Azhar's academic, cultural and missionary role during the period of his office to help adopting its moderate approach.