27 Dec. 2001 - 2 Jan. 2002
Issue No.566
|
Al-Ahram Weekly Online 27 Dec. 2001 - 2 Jan. 2002 Issue No.566 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
A cultural feast
Cairo University celebrated, for the second year running, its 'Culture Day.' A particular feature of the day, as Dena Rashed reports, was the honouring of many of those of its alumni who have graduated from the university and subsequently contributed, through their efforts, to public works. The celebration was held under the auspices of Prime Minister Atef Ebeid in the Cairo University ballroom. Dr Mohamed El- Zawahri, the guest of honour, who had been awarded the Mubarak Prize for Sciences, subsequently gave a speech in which he acknowledged the university's role in advancing education in Egypt and the Middle East.
Although Naguib Mahfouz did not attend the ceremony, his wife received the award on his behalf. "Although I have already mentioned that I would not participate in any occasion celebrating my birthday due to the events that the world is passing through, where hundreds have been killed in Palestine and Chechnya, as well as many others in the latest attacks in the United States. However, I have been very satisfied with all the work that the university has done which will live on in the future." Mahfouz said in his letter. "The award honors me not just because I have graduated from Cairo University but also because it will act as a spur to all students."
In his speech honouring Mahfouz, Mohamed Salmawy, the editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Hebdo highlighted Mahfouz's emphasis on science in all his novels. "Mahfouz is the most important symbol of enlightenment in Egypt, and science, information, and enlightenment are the pillars of his novels," Salmawy said.
Ebeid also honoured Ibrahim Nafie, the head of the journalists' syndicate and the chairman of Al-Ahram newspaper.
Two other Arab figures were also honoured on the same occasion. Soad Al-Sabah, the renowned Kuwaiti writer and poet, was honoured by the university for her support to its programmes. "Her support to the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, from which she graduated, is noticeable and very much appreciated. She has donated $75,000 annually for life in support of Egyptian graduate students enrolled at universities overseas," said Alia El- Mahdi, vice dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences.
The second Arab figure to be honoured was Sultan Al-Kasemy, the ruler of the United Arab Emirates' Al-Sharkah province who graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture and has contributed to the university both financially and morally.
Among the others to be honoured were Fathi Sorour, head of Parliament; former prime minister Atef Sedky; Sufi Abu Taleb, the former president of Cairo University; Soliman Metwali, former minister of transportation; and Maher Abaza, former minister of electricity. Several other professors, from a wide range of different faculties, were honoured for their efforts and successes in their fields.
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
Recommend this page