Minister of Political Affairs of Sierra Leone Extends an Official Invitation to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, to Visit His Nation

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, received Amara Kallon, the Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone, along with a high-level delegation to discuss ways to enhance mutual cooperation.

His Eminence the Grand Imam warmly welcomed the Sierra Leonean Minister and the accompanying delegation to Al-Azhar, expressing his esteem for Sierra Leone. He also expressed readiness to establish a center for teaching the Arabic language in Sierra Leone, to serve the people in learning the language of the Holy Quran and studying Islamic sciences, preparing students aspiring to join Al-Azhar University, increasing scholarships offered to Sierra Leoneans, and training imams from Sierra Leone according to a specialized academic curriculum designed to enhance their skills in refuting misconceptions about Islam and promoting values of tolerance and coexistence.

The Sierra Leonean Minister conveyed greetings from the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, and his appreciation for His Eminence's efforts in promoting values of coexistence and dialogue. He thanked His Eminence for continuous support to Sierra Leoneans through Al-Azhar's envoys in their country and for sponsoring Sierra Leonean students studying at Al-Azhar, who, upon graduation, contribute to the development of their country, holding leadership positions in various institutions and organizations.

The Sierra Leonean Minister extended an official invitation to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, to visit Sierra Leone, stating that the Sierra Leonean people eagerly await this visit. He also welcomed His Eminence's proposal to train imams from Sierra Leone at Al-Azhar, to enhance their skills in addressing contemporary issues and to create religious leaders capable of educating youth and raising their awareness to contribute to the promotion of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.