Al-Azhar Grand Imam (GI) and MCE Chairman, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, received today, Tuesday, at Al-Azhar HQ, Ambassador Dole Gueu Albert, Ambassador of Côte d'Ivoire to Cairo, to discuss ways to support Muslims in Côte d'Ivoire.

 

His Eminence the Grand Imam said that Al-Azhar has strong historical relations with Côte d'Ivoire, and incoming students have been an important factor in strengthening and developing this relationship. He added that Al-Azhar allocates 8 annual scholarships for the youth of Côte d'Ivoire, and that there is an institute in Côte d'Ivoire under the supervision of Al-Azhar, the Institute of Najah and Falah, which includes 21 Azhari envoys who teach Ivorians the sciences of Sharia and language, in addition to approximately 300 students studying at various educational levels at Al-Azhar. His Eminence confirmed Al-Azhar's readiness to increase the scholarships provided to the Muslims of Côte d'Ivoire, in order to meet the needs of the Ivorian community in facing its internal challenges.

 

His Eminence also affirmed Al-Azhar's readiness to establish a center for teaching the Arabic language in the Ivorian capital, taking responsibility for sending specialists and teachers, in addition to books and curricula, to serve the Muslims of Côte d'Ivoire in learning the language of the Holy Qur’an. He also stated that we are prepared to receive imams from Côte d'Ivoire for training at Al-Azhar's International Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers, to refine their skills in combating extremist ideologies and clarifying Islam's true stance on issues of coexistence, brotherhood, and acceptance of others.

The Ivorian Ambassador expressed his happiness for meeting the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and his appreciation for the great efforts made by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in hosting students coming from Côte d'Ivoire, caring for them and providing all the services they need. He stressed that Côte d'Ivoire has great respect for Al-Azhar, and appreciates its role in spreading correct Islamic thought, and that Al-Azhar graduates in Côte d'Ivoire have a major role in confronting extremism, refuting the ideas of terrorist groups and confronting them intellectually. Given the importance of Al-Azhar, the Ivorian government has adopted a project to equate certificates issued by Al-Azhar University, and to encourage the youth of Côte d'Ivoire to join this prestigious scientific institution.