Kuwait ‘launches’ Al-Sumait Prize for African Development
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 9, (KUNA): The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) launched Monday Abdulrahman AlSumait Prize for African Development to encourage innovative initiatives for the advancement of economic, social, human resources, and infrastructure development in the African continent.
“The USD one million-prize is an initiative from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah,” KFAS Director General Dr Adnan Shehabuddin said in a press conference on the occasion.
He added that His Highness the Amir, who chairs KFAS Board of Directors, announced the prize for the first time in the third African Arab Summit hosted by the State of Kuwait in November 2013.
“His Highness the Amir initiative aims to encourage and incentivize African human resources and build a solid ground for science, technology, creativity, and enhancing the cultural environment,” Shehabuddin said.
He expounded that the prize is also meant to show the appreciation, recognition of the best studies, scientific projects, applied research, and innovative initiatives, which within the Health field have made significant impact and lasting influence in advancing progress to economic and social development in Africa.
“The prize should also highlight successes within the following areas: food security, health and education,” he said.
He noted that the awarded projects should help African nations to overcome poverty, hunger, lack of potable water, injustice or to improve health care, literacy and the allocation of economic resources. “The prize’s cash sum would be awarded along with a gold medal, shield and certificate of recognition,” he clarified.
Shehabuddin pointed out that the prize is named “Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize” after a Kuwaiti physician who spent his lifetime dedicated towards helping the poor in Africa in the field of health and education.
The KFAS would receive the prize nomination application and research papers from today till 30 November 2015.
He underlined that the nominated candidates’ research work or projects and initiatives must be innovative and must have achieved high-impact in line with international standards for the prize; must be of paramount importance in promoting significant economic, social, human resources and infrastructure development in the African continent within the announced field of the prize.
The submitted research work of a nominated candidate should be composed of studies and applied research, published in referred journals and recognized at a global level within the announced field. The research outcome needs to have been applied after publication in African countries within the past ten years. Adequate supporting evidence needs to be provided, he stressed.
The nominations are to be accepted from institutions and scientific centers (universities, institutes and centers of scientific research) as well as from competent regional or international and UN organizations and awards and former winners in the field of the prize or former evaluation members. Nominations will only be accepted through institutions or other possible nominators mentioned above.
Al-Sumait (1947-2013) is an extraordinary man who dedicated his life to helping poor and orphans in remote and destitute areas across the African continent. He spent over three decades of his life in his philanthropic work in the African continent; participating in providing care for thousands of orphans, the drilling of around 9,500 artesian wells and the establishment of 860 schools, four universities and 204 Islamic centers. Though his charitable work covered the majority of African countries, AlSumait gave special attention to countries which suffer from famine, hunger and spread of diseases such as Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola.
He remained undeterred by obstacles and undertook a number of trips deep into the African jungles and subjected himself to the dangers and terrors of travel through its remote forests in order to carry out charitable mission. These were selfless actions which can be considered to be from the acts of a living martyrdom frequently subjecting himself to danger in his relentless efforts to bring peace, aid and relief to Africa; be it with a loaf of bread in his hand (food), or a lamp (essential supplies) or a book (education).
Al-Sumait was a medical practitioner who received his medical degree from Baghdad, diploma from Liverpool and researched in liver cancer at Kings College London.
In 1981, when he was 35, he established the Africa Muslim Agency (AMA) that was later renamed as Direct Aid where he served as chairman from 1981 to 2008. He devoted his whole life to this noble cause. During his life, he founded a number of charitable organizations and was member in several other organizations. He has occupied several posts in medical and public action bodies.
Dr Shehabuddin
King Salman, in a speech opening the 4th Arab-Latin American summit, commended common positions between the two sides over a host of issues of mutual interest specially fighting terrorism and extremism.
He praised outcome of the last three summits and the efforts of the leaders of the Arab and Latin American countries to promote relations to new horizons.
King Salman said the two groups have huge potentials to further strengthen economic relations, calling for the establishment of a business council, signing economic and tax agreements to ultimately boost economic and investment cooperation.
Egyptian President Abdelfatah el-Sisi called for the promotion of economic cooperation to achieve prosperity for the two people.
He said the regional countries and institutions were facing the threat of “disintegration and undermining principles of co-existence.” el-Sisi said the Palestinian cause was the core conflict in the Middle East.
“Ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, declaring the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital will contribute to stability in the Middle East and generate hope for the youth,” he said.
Envoy of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, arrived in Riyadh leading the Kuwaiti delegation to the Summit.
Upon arrival at King Khaled International Airport, His Highness the Premier and his accompanying delegation were received by Governor of the Riyadh region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Kuwait’s ambassador to the Kingdom Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the Saudi ambassador to Kuwait Abdulaziz Al-Fayez.
This fourth summit grouping the Arab and South American state acquires importance amid current developments and changes worldwide, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said in a press statement as KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Bader Al-Essa said the proposed compulsory education for expatriates born in Kuwait requires a huge budget and a comprehensive study to identify the actual number of these students and their academic level, reports Al-Rai daily.
Al-Essa confirmed that he asked the concerned authorities in the ministry to study the proposal and come up with a clear vision according to the potentials of the ministry and the ability of schools to accommodate more students.
He admitted the general education schools currently lack the capacity to accept more students, especially after the admission of the children of Bedoun military personnel. He pointed out the evening classes require more capabilities, teachers and administrative staff although the government shoulders the cost.
He clarified the ministry cannot take a decision on the admission of any category in schools unless a comprehensive study is carried out. He said the study should include the number of students in every educational district and academic level.
HH the Amir’s representative HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarrak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah being received at the airport
he arrived in the Saudi capital.
Expressing pleasure for attending the event representing His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Prime Minister reiterated Kuwait’s keenness on taking part in international events that seek to enhance cooperation and development for the world countries.
He referred to His Highness the Amir’s initiatives in that respect, convening several summits for the Arab countries and counterparts from Asia and Africa. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak voiced confidence in the success of the summit in Saudi Arabia, led by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
This summit embodies the remarkable progress in the Arab-South America cooperation over the past decade, he said, noting that bilateral trade had doubled over these years.
It is a good opportunity for the participant countries to boost political coordination on the international scene, as well as a mechanism for promoting economic, cultural educational and technological ties, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said.
His Highness the Premier pointed to several common factors between the Arab countries and their counterparts in
South America which constitute a solid ground to improve bilateral historical relations.
State television showed the arrival of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, whose country belongs to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries along with Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter.
President Rafael Correa of Ecuador, OPEC’s smallest member, was also present, but other South American countries appeared to be represented by less powerful officials.
Arab presidents attending include Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt and Fuad Masum of Iraq, as well as Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas. Other rulers present include Gulf monarchs and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
They are meeting behind the Greekstyle colonnades of a sprawling chandeliered and domed conference centre, under strict security that includes armoured vehicles mounted with machineguns.
Ahead of the two days of talks, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said windows of cooperation have long existed “but haven’t been
open enough to take advantage of the capabilities” of both regions.
For example, Sudan has land and water “that could enable it to become the Arab and South American food basket”.
The summit between the 22 Arab League members and 12 nations from South America was first held in 2005.
The gatherings were an initiative of then Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose country hosted the first summit.
Ahead of the talks, Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi told Kuwait’s KUNA news agency that “trade between both regions has amounted to $30 billion after it was no more than $6 billion in 2005”.
Peru, which hosted the third meeting in 2012, last month became one of 12 Pacific rim countries to seal the world’s largest free trade area, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Chile is the only other South American nation included in that deal.
Saudi columnist Abdulateef alMulhim, writing in Monday’s Arab News, said that together, the Arab and South American regions can help bring prosperity and stability to the world.