As part of the “Journey to OIC Countries” series, SESRIC welcomed H.E. Moustapha Sokhna DIOP, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to the Republic of Türkiye, together with a delegation from the Embassy and a group of Senegalese students, at its Al-Aqsa Library.

The programme commenced with welcoming remarks by H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, who expressed her great pleasure in receiving the esteemed Ambassador, the Embassy delegation, and Senegalese students pursuing their education in Türkiye. She warmly welcomed the guests, noting that the visit held a special significance, as Senegal was the first country to positively respond to SESRIC’s invitation under this initiative. On this occasion, she conveyed her sincere appreciation to Ambassador DIOP, his team, and the students for taking the time to visit the Centre.

During the programme, participants were introduced to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well as the mandate and activities of SESRIC in the fields of statistics, research, and technical cooperation. The presentation highlighted Senegal’s strategic importance within the OIC, recalling its status as one of the 25 founding members of the Organisation in 1969, as well as its distinguished role in the institutional history of the OIC. In this regard, reference was made to the tenure of H.E. Amadou Karim GAYE, Senegal’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, who served as the third Secretary-General of the OIC between 1975 and 1979, underscoring Senegal’s enduring place in the collective memory of the Organisation.

H.E. SELÇUK further noted that SESRIC serves the OIC countries by strengthening reliable data infrastructures, producing policy-relevant research, and enhancing institutional capacities through experience-sharing and training programmes. She emphasised that cooperation with Senegal has gained considerable momentum in recent years, with Senegal having benefited from approximately 240 SESRIC activities involving around 450 participants. This cooperation reflects the strong relationship of trust and sustainable partnership established between SESRIC and its national counterparts.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Centre’s close cooperation with the Senegalese National Institute of Statistics and Demography (ANSD), especially in the field of statistics. ANSD’s participation in the sessions of the OIC Statistical Commission was highlighted as a clear demonstration of Senegal’s commitment to statistical excellence and international standardisation. SESRIC, which serves as the Secretariat of the OIC Statistical Commission, expressed its appreciation for Senegal’s valuable contributions, which have enhanced the quality and inclusiveness of the Commission’s work. Senegal is also regularly featured in SESRIC’s research and analytical reports within the framework of social and economic indicators.

In his address, H.E. DIOP expressed his sincere appreciation to SESRIC for its continued efforts in supporting Senegalese institutions across a wide range of sectors. He commended the steadily expanding cooperation between SESRIC and Senegal’s national institutions and thanked the Centre for organising the programme, which provided Senegalese students with a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insight into the mandate and activities of the OIC and SESRIC. He also highlighted SESRIC’s significant contributions to the designation of Dakar as the OIC City of Tourism, as well as the successful implementation of a project in Dakar aimed at advancing Senegal’s tourism sector through a public–private partnership (PPP) approach.

Following the welcoming remarks, the programme coontinued with a presentation delivered by the students’ delegation, which showcased Senegal’s history, geography, culture, and economy, underscoring the importance of engaging youth in promoting national identity, cultural heritage, and socio-economic potential within international backgrounds.

The programme also included a section on SESRIC’s Emerging Talents Capacity-Building Programme (SET-CaB), which aims to empower young professionals from OIC countries by enhancing their skills and providing them with exposure to working in an international organisational environment. The Senegalese students had the opportunity to learn more about the programme and engage in discussions on career development and seek experience in international platforms.

The visit concluded with an exchange of views, reaffirming the shared commitment of SESRIC and the Republic of Senegal to further deepen cooperation in support of sustainable development, capacity building, and youth empowerment across OIC countries.

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