Cairo, 13 December, 2022:

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed El-Tayeb, received the Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sadiq Silla on the occasion of a courtesy visit on Wednesday, 23 November 2022 at his office in Cairo.

Egypt’s AL Azhar University is one of the world’s foremost seats of traditional Islamic learning.

The Grand Imam welcomed the delegation in the name of God, the most glorious and merciful, and hailed the ambassador’s efforts in extending Sierra Leone – Egypt ties.

For his part, the Ambassador expressed thanks to Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed El-Tayeb for holding the view and teaching the students the morals that Islam cannot prevail and spread using weapons, but through arguments, logic and conviction and conveyed the message of thanks and appreciation of His Excellency, Brig. Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio to President Sisi and all Egyptian officials for the educational support Sierra Leone had been receiving over the years wishing Egypt further progress and prosperity.

Ambassador Silla said his visit was inspired by the historic lessons, achievements and enormous impacts the institution has created in modern Islamic education in Africa. He declared that President Bio’s vision of Human Capital Development aligns with President Sisi’s passion for improving education in Egypt. Other issues discussed relate to visiting the Grand Imam to Sierra Leone, student welfare and statistics, the establishment of Al-Azhar learning institutions, types of scholarships offered with requirements, duration of courses and benefits, further training of imams, assistance to Masjids and schools, awarding more scholarships, establishing Al-Azhar Radio Station in Sierra Leone foster direct bilateral relations with the Embassy in Egypt.

During his speech, Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayyeb noted on Wednesday that the idea of visiting Sierra Leone and establishing institutions there is worthwhile and that he was considering all possibilities to yield to the demands of Ambassador Silla. He assured Ambassador Silla that his institution is willing to organize free additional training programs for Imams of Sierra Leone in Cairo.

He informed that the number of Sierra Leonean Students in Al-Azhar is 39 (Boys and Girls): 10 in special studies, 4 at preparatory, 6 at High School, 12 at University and 7 Post Graduate. Out of this number, 27 are on Scholarship from Al Azhar from which 21 are living on campus and 6 outside. The remaining 12 students are either at their own expense or on scholarships from agencies other than Al-Azhar.

In addition, Sheikh Tayyeb confirmed that 12 scholarships were dedicated to Sierra Leonean Students for the 2022-2023 academic years and keeping track of their progress through a continuous assessment system. Al Tayyeb stressed that the institution offers scholarships in all career development areas of studies and not just in Islamic studies.

The meeting was attended by delegates and scholars from the university and representatives of the Sierra Leone Students Union in Cairo,
among whom a working committee was formed with Dr. Abdedayem Nossair, Imam Adviser for Education and Cultural Affairs as a focal point and Soha Zamzam, Office Manager and Mohamed B. Kallon representing the Embassy on a working committee. The Embassy was requested to send technical assistance proposals on priority areas of study for scholarship in succeeding years.

By Mohamed B. Kallon
Information Attaché
Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Cairo
The Arab Republic of Egypt
Email;
information.attache@eg.slembassy.gov.sl
+201104336127