President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his administration would focus on programmes that would enhance national integration, social cohesion and mutual relationship between the government and other international organisations.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Tahir Umar Tahir, said this when he paid a visit to the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He said: “There are so many projects and plans Mr. President is embarking on, with a view to making sure that peaceful co-existence continued to thrive in the country. At the same time to organise seminars that will enlighten Muslims on the correct teaching of Islam.”
He urged the Saudi authorities to continue to offer scholarships to the Nigerian students, assuring the embassy and other foreign Islamic missions in Nigeria of federal government’s commitment to the development of Islam.
He said the president since last year had done a lot in the area of Qur’anic integration in Nigeria by establishing more than 100 Islamic schools across the country amongst other programmes.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Nigeria, Fuad A. Rajeh, said: “We are committed to seeking how to enhance the cooperation between us, to form a new horizon by developing the relationship between the two countries, to lift it up from its normal relationship to strategic relation, who will be suitable for both countries.
“We have to find a way to develop further the Islamic field, especially in the area of scholarship for studies into various fields of human endeavours.
“We are looking forward to creating more horizons for greater cooperation with Nigeria in all aspects and field of human endeavours, so as to develop the national economies of the two countries.”
He said 18 female Nigerians studying their bachelors’ degrees in various fields at Prince Nural University in Riyadh were offered scholarships last month.