A forum of Saudi Arabian university alumni in Nigeria and neighbouring countries has opened in Abuja.
The organisers, in a statement, said the inauguration, which was held on Monday, signals a renewed commitment by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to strengthen academic and research cooperation across West Africa.
The event, organised by King Khalid University in collaboration with the University of Tabuk and Najran University, was facilitated by Saudi Arabia’s ministry of education.
Suwaiba Saidu Ahmed, minister of state for education, and Saad bin Fahd Al-Marri, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Saudi embassy in Abuja, were among the dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony.
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Ahmed commended the Kingdom’s continued support for international students through scholarships and exchange programmes that have enabled Nigerians to study in Saudi universities.
She noted that such an initiative will help to strengthen academic and research cooperation between the two countries.
This, she said, will open broader horizons for joint scientific and knowledge exchange.
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Al-Marri said that the initiative reflects the Kingdom’s growing investment in global education and its vision of building a knowledge-driven society under Saudi Vision 2030.
He added that the Saudi scholarship efforts under its education ministry are designed to “equip graduates with scientific and technical expertise that contribute to the growth of their home countries, reinforcing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and its partners.”
The three-day forum features six academic sessions with 21 speakers and over 400 participants, including alumni of Saudi universities from Nigeria and neighbouring nations.
It is also expected to highlight the contributions of these graduates in their communities and encourage further academic partnerships across Africa.
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