Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, received, on Monday, His Excellency Sheikh Salem Nyabajobho, Mufti of the Republic of Burundi, accompanied by Mr. Omar Ntezimberih, the Ambassador of Burundi in Cairo, and Mr. Issa Muzehi Salvator, the Secretary-General of the Islamic League in Burundi. The meeting came to discuss ways of cooperation to enhance the academic and preaching support and religious training.
On his part, the Grand Imam underlined al-Azhar readiness to increase the scholarships allocated to Burundian students, to open the way for the largest number of Burundian students to join al-Azhar University and benefit from its knowledge. His Eminence added that al-Azhar will dispatch Azhari envoys as a support for the religious schools in Burundi. Further, the Grand Imam announced that al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams and Preachers will receive Burundian imams for two months to join specialized training programs addressing the needs of the Burundian society. Such programs will enable them to tackle the religious and intellectual issues in their societies leading to spreading the values of moderation and correcting the misconceptions.
In the same vein, the Grand Imam explained that al-Azhar prioritizes the cooperation with educational and cultural institutions. He underscored that investing in education and training imams is not merely an academic service, however, it is rather a comprehensive cultural project seeking to establish social stability and preserve the authentic religious identity while promoting the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. This is achieved through sound academic curricula that respect the specificities and cultures of communities while being open to new intellectual developments in a balanced manner.
On his part, the Mufti of Burundi expressed his pleasure to meet with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, as well his country’s appreciation for the role played by His Eminence in serving the issues of the Islamic nation. He emphasized that al-Azhar is a trusted and authentic scholarly and preaching reference for Muslims in Burundi and Africa in general. He pointed out that the cooperation with al-Azhar will contribute in developing the capabilities of imams and preachers in his country, which will, positively, impact the entire Burundian society.
