Saudi Varsities Alumni Forum Opens In Abuja

The Forum of Saudi University Alumni in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has officially opened in Abuja, with the commencement of an exhibition.

The event is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and organised by King Khalid University in collaboration with the

University of Tabuk and Najran University. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr Suwaiba Saidu Ahmed, Minister of State

for Education of Nigeria, and Mr Saad bin Fahd Al-Marri, Chargé d’Affaires of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Abuja.

In her speech, the Minister of State for Education expressed profound gratitude to the Government of Saudi Arabia for its continued support of international students through scholarship programmes that foster learning and knowledge exchange at Saudi universities. She praised Saudi Arabia’s distinguished efforts in advancing education regionally and globally.

She also acknowledged the organizers’ dedication to the Forum’s success, emphasising that such initiatives strengthen academic and research collaboration between the two nations and broaden opportunities for joint scientific and knowledge exchange.

Mr. Al-Marri, in his opening address, highlighted the significant progress in Saudi Arabia’s education sector as a reflection of its leadership’s commitment to creating a world-class educational system that keeps pace with scientific and technological advancements, enhancing the Kingdom’s global academic standing.

He stressed the importance of activating the “Study in Saudi Arabia” platform to attract more international students, enabling Saudi universities to fulfil their mission of disseminating knowledge, fostering education, and building bridges of academic and cultural cooperation worldwide.

Mr. Al-Marri noted that the Ministry of Education’s scholarship programmes align with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals by preparing and qualifying talented individuals to contribute to development in their home countries after their studies, and by transferring the skills and expertise acquired in the Kingdom across various scientific and research fields.

Concluding his remarks, he thanked the Federal Republic of Nigeria, represented by the Minister of Education, for hosting the forum, its excellent organization, and warm hospitality. He praised the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria and underscored the forum’s role in enhancing educational and scientific cooperation and strengthening academic partnerships among institutions in friendly
countries.

The forum spans three days, featuring six scholarly sessions with 21 speakers discussing education and research topics, and includes over 400 participants who are alumni of Saudi universities from Nigeria and
neighboring countries.

This forum is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between Saudi universities and their international graduates, monitor their positive contributions to their communities, and emphasize the importance of reinforcing a strong Islamic identity amid modern challenges.

Additionally, it aims to deepen educational and research partnerships between Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and neighbouring countries by promoting academic cooperation and the exchange of expertise and best
practices—demonstrating Saudi universities’ commitment to supporting, empowering, and continuously engaging with their graduates in their home countries.