Abu Dhabi: SiltaNews – News Desk
In implementation of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and in the presence of His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the UAE inaugurated the Islamic Academy yesterday, Monday, in the city of Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan. The academy aims to promote university and post-university education and disseminate noble Islamic values and lofty principles aimed at enriching intellectual dialogue, cultural exchange, and human tolerance.
The opening of the Islamic Academy is part of the UAE’s pioneering humanitarian and development initiatives in various fields, including education, health, the environment, and infrastructure. The academy is closely monitored by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and supervised by His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Martyrs’ Families, Chairman of the International Humanitarian Affairs Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Muhanna Obaid Al Muhairi, Deputy Director General of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and His Excellency Dr. Khalid Salem Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Office for Civilization and Promotion of Human Values, along with a number of officials from both countries. They toured the academy’s various facilities, with the cost of constructing this distinguished educational project exceeding 5 million US dollars (equivalent to more than 18 million Emirati dirhams).
In this regard, His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, praised the strong bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, thanking the UAE’s leadership, government, and people, and appreciating the humanitarian initiatives and distinguished development projects implemented by the UAE in cooperation with his country across various vital sectors, especially higher education. These initiatives are in line with the sustainable development goals, a shared international responsibility to which the UAE contributes in a pioneering and inspiring global manner. His Excellency also noted the importance of the Islamic Academy in providing continuous educational opportunities for thousands of Kyrgyz youth.
For his part, His Excellency Mohanna Obaid Al Muhairi, Deputy Director General of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, emphasized the UAE’s civilizational and humanitarian mission towards developing communities across various continents, following the immortal humanitarian approach of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul in peace), and the directives of the wise leadership (may God protect them) to cooperate and work with various countries around the world and needy and friendly communities for the good and prosperity of all humanity.
Al Muhairi pointed out the importance of the academy’s pivotal role as a beacon for disseminating enlightened knowledge and science based on authentic Islamic principles and values, and its institutional endeavors to build generations capable of interacting positively with contemporary challenges while adhering to the constants of the true religion and the system of virtuous ethics. The academy will work to provide a distinguished educational model to graduate generations after generations of competencies capable of enriching the intellectual and cultural landscape with the highest tolerant Islamic values and common humanitarian principles.
The implementation of the Islamic Academy comes as part of the Zayed Humanitarian and Charitable Foundation’s program to build schools and universities and provide scholarships, embodying the UAE’s inspiring humanitarian and development vision. The Foundation completed this academy in the city of Tokmok, 60 kilometers from the Kyrgyz capital. It includes 10 multi-purpose classrooms and offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs, in addition to vocational training and continuing education programs to serve the academy’s staff and members, as well as various members of society and civil society organizations.
The academy will achieve a prominent position in the coming years, thanks to its educational programs, competitive capabilities, and diverse research and community contributions. For his part, Qanurlan Umurov, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic, said, “Thanks to the humanitarian efforts of the UAE, represented by the Zayed Humanitarian Foundation, the new generation of male and female students will learn the true teachings of the true and tolerant Islam. We have witnessed this through the great turnout in the classes. We aspire to prepare and graduate teachers and researchers in Islamic religious sciences, who will be of benefit to government institutions.”
Armamat Ergishov, Director of the Islamic Academy, emphasized that the academy represents an important step in developing the religious education system in our country according to modern standards and raising its quality. Education at this academy is free for male and female students, and after graduation, graduates will work as teachers in schools and imams in mosques, spreading the tolerant and correct teachings of Islam.
Faculty members praised the UAE’s humanitarian efforts, noting that the academy, with its advanced facilities and modern curricula, will represent a significant shift in the quality of education in the country. They extended their thanks and appreciation to the UAE’s leadership and people for this gift. Male and female students at the academy expressed their happiness at joining the new academic year, extending their thanks and praise to the Zayed Humanitarian Foundation for its efforts and dedication to constructing this academy to modern standards and providing all necessary support.