As part of its strategic vision to build people and empower them culturally and educationally, the IICO Funded the Institute of Moderation and Culture of Peace in Djibouti, to add to its educational achievements a new beacon of science and knowledge in the continent of Africa.
The institute was inaugurated on March 20, 2023, under the auspices and presence of the President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a group of senior African officials and members of the diplomatic corps in some Arab and Islamic countries, and the Director General of IICO, Eng. Bader Al-Sumait, who delivered the IICO’s speech during the opening ceremony.
The Institute seeks to graduate moderate preachers, Imams, and scholars who are enlightened with the jurisprudence of purposes and necessities of life, the jurisprudence of balancing, and the approach of moderation, tolerance, and coexistence. It hosts 360 students in its classrooms and lecture rooms, and is located on an area of 1,794 square meters.
Approach of Moderation and Openness
The President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, expressed his thanks to the State of Kuwait for funding the Institute, stressing the importance of its role in protecting values, promoting tolerance and moderation, supporting Islamic culture, encouraging the approach of moderation and openness, and spreading the principles of guidance, mercy, security and safety in society.
He said that the Institute is an important addition in directing the religious sector, encouraging preachers and imams to follow the approach of moderation and tolerance, and promoting civil peace and national harmony by spreading the culture of peace and solidarity in Djiboutian society.
Furthermore, the President of Djibouti added, “We constantly seek to promote a culture of peace and coexistence, strengthen the social fabric, and preserve religious values as a source of strength and unity, expressing his pride in the cultural diversity, social harmony, and the approach of tolerance and moderation that Djibouti is witnessing.”
He stressed that the Institute comes within the efforts to preserve these advantages to protect the Islamic religion, as a source of inspiration and brotherhood, and reiterated his thanks and appreciation to those who contributed to the achievement of the Institute.
New Science Fortress
In turn, the Director General of the IICO, Bader Al-Sumait, said that the IICO intended to establish this institute as a new scientific fortress, based on its strategic vision, in which the provision of educational and qualification opportunities and the dissemination of moderate Islamic culture represent two main goals, among its strategic goals.
He pointed out the IICO’s keenness to provide educational opportunities and scholarships to achieve qualitative outputs among knowledge students, especially postgraduate students and geniuses, in order to become effective and positive influencers in their communities.
Al-Sumait added, “We are also working to provide such opportunities to meet the needs of students, develop their abilities, develop curricula according to the needs of labor markets, establish sustainable educational institutions, and support the efforts of educational institutions, especially in emergency situations to address learning difficulties.”
He pointed out that the outcome of these efforts during 2021 and 2022 amounted to 157 projects, and the number of beneficiaries from these projects reached 68,858 students, teachers and university professors in 23 countries, in cooperation with more than 50 partner agencies.
He thanked the President of Djibouti for his generous sponsorship of the opening ceremony, and his continuous support for charitable institutions, appreciating the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Djibouti and its role in providing all facilities and legal licenses for the establishment of this project.
He expressed his deep thanks to the office of the International Mercy Association in Djibouti, for its sincere efforts in following up on this project since it was an idea, until it became an edifice of science and knowledge.
He also congratulated the students on the inauguration of this qualitative educational project, calling on them to invest in such available opportunity to work on building the future with a spirit of challenge, persistence and determination. As well as to contribute to the service and advancement of the Djiboutian society, hoping that it will be the beginning of goodness and blessing for the learners, and a platform for giving and excellence for society towards a high level of excellent education in its type, tools and spaces.
In the same context, Al-Sumait extended his sincere prayers for the reward of the late uncle Ali Saleh Al-Lahaib, whose endowment revenues – may Allah have mercy on him – were a source of funding for this scientific edifice until it saw the light, came into existence. As well as it became a destination for scholars to bring science down its corridors, and rise in its ranks.
High-level Presence… Officials and Diplomats
The opening ceremony of the Institute of Moderation and the Culture of Peace took place in Djibouti under the auspices of the President of the Republic, Ismail Omar Guelleh, in the presence of high-level Djiboutian officials and members of the Arab and African diplomatic corps in Djibouti.
The attendance was led by Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Kamel Mohammad, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dilita Mohammad Dilita, ministers, deputies and ambassadors of Kuwait, Egypt and Somalia. As well as a delegation from the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, the Minister of Awqaf in the Somaliland government, and the Director General of the IICO, Eng. Bader Al-Sumait.
Institute of Moderation … Objectives and Paths
– Enhancing Djibouti’s role in spreading the approach of moderation, and tolerance, training imams and preachers, highlighting the region’s contributions to the service of Islamic advocacy and culture, adhering to values and virtues, and preserving originality and modernity.
– Graduating preachers, imams, and scholars armed with the jurisprudence of purposes and necessities of life, and the jurisprudence of balances, and those linked to their social reality and their spiritual heritage, while mastering the tools and means of the age in interaction and influence.
– Achieving leadership in the field of purposeful scientific research and studies, organizing conferences and advocacy forums at the regional level, in order to highlight the role of Djibouti in achieving integration and knowledge exchange, and supporting its great endeavors to maintain relations based on respect and good neighborliness among the countries of the region.
– Promoting unity, harmony, tolerance and national rapport, and supporting the efforts made by the state to achieve intellectual security and civil peace.
– Activating the message of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments in consolidating the values of tolerance, peace and peaceful coexistence in Djiboutian society and the Horn of Africa and between peoples and nations, and spreading the moderate Islamic approach.
– Preserving the Islamic religious, intellectual and cultural constants of Djiboutian society and immunizing it from intellectual threats targeting intellectual security.
Congratulations on the Holy Month of Ramadan
Al-Sumait congratulated those present on the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of security and faith, blessing and forgiveness, praying to Allah, the Almighty, to return it to our Arab and Islamic nations with goodness, honor, welfare, and blessings.
The highest thanks and gratefulness to the Political Leadership
The Director General raised the highest words of thanks and gratitude to His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and his trustworthy Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah – may Allah preserve and protect them – for the generous care they provide to Islamic and charitable work, great support, and sound guidance for the sake of serving Islam and Muslims.
Charitable Work is a Strategic Pillar
Al-Sumait expressed his thanks and gratefulness to the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Djibouti, Saud Haddad Al-Saeedi, praising the efforts of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs in supporting the charitable and humanitarian work march through its management of its electronic system. As well as its supervision through its diplomatic missions of Kuwaiti charitable work, as one of the strategic pillars of the foreign policy of the State of Kuwait.
