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Knowledge crucial for progress of Muslim world

DUBAI — Those who possess knowledge are capable of establishing their own existence and imposing their dominance on those who don’t have it, said Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary- General of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Knowledge Conference in Dubai yesterday.

He hailed the initiative of Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation in organising the first knowledge conference which aims to regain what the Muslim and Arab nations lost in the field of knowledge.

“There is no prosperity or development in the absence of freedom of thought and the innovation in interacting with global efforts, ” said Ihsanoglu.

Speaking at the knowledge conference, the OIC chief recalled the efforts of the organisation in carrying out a comprehensive historical survey focusing on the role of knowledge and science in the glory and prosperity of nations across human history.

This was done earlier in 2005 while OIC was making preparations for the third extraordinary conference in the Holy City of Makkah.

Ihsanoglu lamented that illiteracy was rampant in more than 36 member countries of OIC.

Ihsanoglu issued a strong call to Muslim countries to make serious efforts to fill the deep vacuum in the filed of knowledge.

The Arab League Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, addressing the conference, said that much of the region’s failure to eradicate illiteracy was due to low budget allocation and poor education programmes.

According to 2006 figures, illiterates stand at over 71 million in the age group of 15 years and above, equivalent to about a quarter of the Arab world’s population, he observed.

Moussa called upon Arab universities to contribute to effectively rectify the situation in the academic sector.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Amat Al Aleem Alsoswa, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and director of its regional bureau for Arab States.