On Monday, September 22, 2025, Alexandria University participated in the 13th annual graduation ceremony of African students enrolled in the “Elite African Youth” program. The event was organized by the Sustainable Development Studies, Youth Capacity Building, and African Relations Support Program at the Academic Research Sector of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation; Dr. Ali Abdel Mohsen, Advisor to the University President for Education and Student Affairs, on behalf of Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University; Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina; as well as several ambassadors, presidents of Egyptian universities, and public figures.

The celebration marked the graduation of around 300 African students studying at various Egyptian universities, representing Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Malawi, the Comoros, Djibouti, and Egypt.

In his speech, Dr. Hani Sewilam congratulated the graduates, affirming that Egypt places cooperation with its African brothers among its top priorities, especially in the fields of water and natural resources. He noted that the continent faces increasing challenges amid water scarcity, population growth, and the adverse impacts of climate change. He stressed the need for intensified cooperation and knowledge exchange among African nations to confront these challenges, reiterating Egypt’s readiness to support African capacities and transfer its distinguished expertise in water resource management and infrastructure projects to contribute to sustainable development across the continent.

For his part, Dr. Ali Abdel Mohsen emphasized that Alexandria University is keen to strengthen Egyptian–African ties by hosting African students and providing advanced academic and research programs. He pointed out that throughout its history, the university has graduated thousands of African students, many of whom went on to hold leadership positions in their home countries and served as true ambassadors of Egypt across the continent. He also highlighted that the university has branches in Chad and South Sudan, along with 17 cooperation agreements with African universities in several countries, reflecting the university’s commitment to opening new horizons for African students and supporting their academic and professional aspirations.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmed Zayed affirmed that the Bibliotheca Alexandrina places programs supporting African youth at the core of its cultural mission as a beacon of knowledge across the continent. He explained that the “Elite African Youth” program is not limited to academic training but also works to build human and cultural networks between African youth and their Egyptian peers through weekly meetings and joint activities, thereby fostering a spirit of cooperation and collective action. He added that such programs are vital tools to reaffirm Egypt’s pioneering role in Africa and strengthen its presence in issues of development and capacity building.

It is worth noting that the “Elite African Youth” programs directed at African students aim to strengthen Egyptian–African relations and open channels of communication between African and Egyptian students through weekly meetings at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The library mobilizes all its resources to support and build their capacities, reaffirming Egypt’s leading role in Africa, while promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise and reinforcing future relations among these young generations.