Conference endorses Gülen’s ideas as guides for Nigerian education system

Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Rıfat Köksal
Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Rıfat Köksal


Date posted: November 19, 2011

18 November 2011, Friday / KERİM BALCI, ABUJA

An international conference organized by the Ufuk Dialogue Foundation and The Fountain magazine under the auspices of the Nigerian federal ministry of education and six Nigerian universities endorsed Fethullah Gülen’s ideas on a culture of coexistence and mutual understanding as among guiding principles of the Nigerian education system.

The first day of the conference titled “Establishing a culture of coexistence and mutual understanding: Exploring Fethullah Gülen’s thought and action” on Friday attracted to the conference hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, more than 300 statesmen and intellectuals including Nigerian Federal Minister of Education Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai and Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Ali Rıfat Köksal. Professor Kyari Muhammad, a member of the local organizing committee read a special message from Gülen.

In his message Gülen thanked the Nigerian authorities for having welcomed Turkish schools and teachers to their country, which “has a crucial role in Africa with its great population and strategic geographic position, [and is] a country that has enormous potential to be an exemplary land with its rich ethnic, cultural and religious mosaic.” Gülen also reiterated his belief in the goodness and beauty in the essence of humanity and that “one day we will attain that high level of humanity this essence calls us to.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference Köksal suggested that in order to overcome the uncertainties created after the Cold War era, we need to move beyond simple tolerance and attain a new definition of mutual understanding and coexistence. “This conference will do this in the Nigerian context,” said Köksal. He compared Nigeria to Turkey by means of its ethnic pluralism and suggested that these multiplicities should be seen as richness and not sources of problems. Referring to Turkish schools opened in Nigeria, Köksal underlined that these schools would build bridges not only between Nigeria and Turkey, but between all 120 countries in which they operate.

The first day of the conference featured three sessions where academics discussed the religious and modern backgrounds of Gülen’s thoughts. The director of Centre for Regional Integration and Development in Abuja, Hamidu Bobboyi, brought an overview of the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and Central Bilad al-Sudan, which is known as Nigeria today, so as to sketch the historical background of culture of coexistence under the Ottomans. Associate Professor Sakah Saidu Mahmud from Kwara State University presented a paper on the lessons of Gülen’s thought for managing communal conflicts in Nigeria.

The conference will continue Saturday with names like Professor Maimul Ahsan Khan of the University of Dhaka, Professor Azmuddin Ibrahim of Universiti Selangor, Professor Gjergj Sinani of the University of Tirana, featuring among others. The conference will be broadcast online through the official websites of the conference, www.nigeriaconference2011.org and www.cultureofcoexistence.org.

Source: Today’s Zaman http://www.todayszaman.com/news-263267-conference-endorses-gulens-ideas-as-guides-for-nigerian-education-system.html


Related News

Kimse Yok Mu volunteer doctors back from Central African Republic

The two members of Association of the Kadirli Medical Professionals (a district of the province Osmaniye in Turkey), general surgeon Cem Oruc and anesthesiologist Ali Ihsan Atac are back from the Central African Republic. The medical team, welcomed on their arrival by the deputy-minister of health, performed 40 operations and some one thousand examinations in […]

Kimse Yok Mu soup kitchen to serve weekly hot meal in Somalia

A large number of people showed up at the inaugural service last Friday. Mogadishu families in need enjoyed the hot meal and fruits served in hygienic conditions after a long time.
In cooperation with Somalia’s Ministry of Social Welfare and hosted by Hodan municipality, the initiative will continue throughout the year. The target is 50 thousand needy by the end of the year. Security forces on the scene will coordinate recipient families during the distribution.

French coach Tigana to donate computer lab to Turkish school in Mali

A large educational facility is being constructed on 14 acres of land by Turkish education volunteers in Bamako. While the construction of the school, which will be situated along the Niger River, is still in progress, the volunteers were delighted by the unexpected support from French coach Tigana for the education complex. Tigana first drastically reduced the price of the land and then promised to sponsor the construction of a computer lab in the school.

Turkish aid organizations deliver clean water to 20 million

NİHAT POLAT, İSTANBUL As Turkey continues to help struggling African countries, many Turkish aid foundations are working to resolve Africa’s long-standing water supply problem by digging wells in countries across the continent. So far more than 20 million people in Africa and elsewhere have gained access to clean water thanks to the humanitarian work of […]

Turkey’s top Muslim cleric visits Turkish school in Cameroon

Religious Affairs Directorate President Mehmet Görmez visited a Turkish Schoolin the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde on Monday, where he praised the contribution of Turkish schools in Africa. Görmez, accompanied by Turkish Airlines Chairman Hamdi Topçu, was welcomed at the Amity International Turkish School with a ceremony by students and school administrators. The visitors listened to […]

Health Improvement Initiatives in Africa and Kimse Yok Mu

The ongoing hospital constructions in Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya can be listed as the most typical examples of Kimse Yok Mu’s sustainable development projects which are aimed at fulfilling the medical needs. The hospitals underway in four different countries will be equipped with 35 beds, 2 operation theatres, 2 delivery rooms, 1 intensive care and newborn unit, 12 outpatient service rooms, radiology service and labs.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Turkish Food Festival seeks to teach Greenville about Turkey’s culture and cuisine

Fethullah Gülen condemns the terrorist attack in Gaziantep, Turkey

Mueller Probes Flynn’s Role in Alleged Plan to Deliver Gulen to Turkey

Erdoğan’s propagandist think tanks

Şimşek: Despite slander, Gülen remains silent to avoid provoking gov’t supporters

Turkey’s efforts in Somalia

Mother detained over Gülen links while twins left in intensive care

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News