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Egypt’s President El-Sisi Promises Bigger Role for Youth in Nation’s Development
30 September 2014
Dean Andromidas (EIRNS)—Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called for Egypt’s youth to play a bigger role in the development of the nation. Speaking at a ceremony at Cairo University to honour 27 students, el-Sisi confessed Egypt wasn’t "able to provide real channels of communication with its youth.... I want Egypt’s youth to be by my side," he said. "I love Egypt’s youth and consider them my children." He added that Egyptian universities represent a "home for national experience that leads our society to resurgence and advancement." El-Sisi said he is creating special councils that will have an active role in the Presidency, ministries, and governorates, and that said 50% these "specialized councils" should be comprised of youth, reported Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website. He urged young Egyptians to take part in national projects such as the Suez Canal project. While warning students against participating in "malicious" activities and urging them to view universities as a place solely for education, he promised to double the number of students granted scholarships abroad. According to the government’s State Information Service, el-Sisi asserted the necessity of state interest to develop universities in order to enable them play their role in the field of science, enlightenment, enhancing citizens awareness and effective participation of the Egyptian university students in all domains of life. The President emphasized the importance of providing equal opportunities in the fields of education and labor, hailing the role of science in achieving political, economic and social development in which youth should take part through their contributions to big national projects topped by the Suez Canal Corridor Development Project, agricultural development projects, housing projects, and the national road-building project. El-Sisi also saluted the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel-Nasser on the anniversary of his death, Sept. 28, 1970. This was the first speech for El-Sisi at Cairo University’s famous Grand Celebrations Hall, from where Egypt’s four previous Presidents spoke. |