The Arab Thought Foundation has awarded Lieutenant General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE, the Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 in recognition of his exceptional leadership and creative ideas to promote security and achieve cultural and social development in the UAE, and in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
The Foundation also honoured prominent Arab figures who have left their creative footprints in thought, literature and social development, including Chancellor Adly Mansour; Chedli Klibi, Amr Moussa, Dr Nabil Elaraby and Dr. Mohammad Noureddine Afaya.
HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior received the award from Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Province and Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation don the sidelines of the 14th annual conference of the Arab Thought Foundation (ATF) in Cairo, FIKR 14 Cairo 2015.
In his address at the ceremony, His Royal Highness Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation said that the Lifetime Achievement Award is given to distinguished Arab leading dignitaries whose life is productive and full of achievements in their respective countries.
In his acceptance speech, HH Sheikh Saif dedicated the award and thanked HH the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He said: “I am very pleased and honored to join this esteemed group of Arab intellectuals, who are being honoured, not only for being intellectuals, but because they are positive intellectuals who have left their marks on their communities. Both ancient and modern experiences have proven developed communities and governments rely on the efforts of their sons and daughters, who embrace positive thinking.”
HH Sheikh Saif added: “His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has recently declared 2016 as the Year of Reading in the UAE. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai is also supporting this initiative to promote reading among Emirati youth; while General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces is dedicated to maintain the safety, security and happiness of our young generations.”
Dr Henri Awit, Director General of Arab Thought Foundation in Cairo, said HH Sheikh Saif is known for his creative ideas in relation to social development, and his wise vision about reinforcing security in his capacity as Minister of Interior. “Choosing Lieutenant General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award is testament to this distinguished leading Arab dignitary’s tireless efforts, and in appreciation of his creativity, accomplishments and humanitarian work in several fields. It is a well done, well deserved tribute,” he said.
He continued: “Sheikh Saif enjoys a comprehensive development vision in support of the fight against terrorism and chaos. He asserted on numerous occasions that terrorism can’t be fought with security measures only, and stressed the need for societal and developmental dimensions to overcome it.”
“This accolade comes at a time when we strive to maintain the Arab solidarity; and we congratulate the Arab Thought Foundation for making this choice,” added Dr Husam Abdulwahab Zaman, Director General of the UNESCO Regional Center.
His Excellency Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in the UAE, lauded the humanitarian achievements made by HH Sheikh Saif, notably HH’s support to the programme implemented by the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters in coordination with the Higher Colleges of Technology to prepare and rehabilitate the punitive and correctional establishments’ inmates to join the workforce. He hailed the project as one of the leading humanitarian projects to rehabilitate former inmates, qualify them to join the workforce and obtain job opportunities and integrate them into society.
“This allows inmates to pursue their studies at the Higher Colleges of Technology once released. Inmates can seek to obtain a certificate of completion, a diploma, or a higher diploma. They will also be granted a certificate of good conduct, which enables them to obtain a job in the public sector.
HE Mohammed Fadhil Al Hamili, Secretary General of the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO), shared that HH Sheikh Saif has played an active and key role in supporting the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs, as well as supporting people with special needs. "HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed has launched multiple humanitarian initiatives that aim to serve people with special needs, including the ‘Plants of Hope’ that aims to integrate children with special needs with their healthy peers, and inculcate the values of loyalty and belonging to the country. It also aims to build the spirit of collective teamwork amongst all segments of society. In addition to that, HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed launched the ‘Will’ programme, which is consistent with ZHO’s mission and strategy, to facilitate the employment and integration of people with special needs into the mainstream society.”
HE Al Hamili also noted that the support and care of HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed are a leading model of patriotism, which reflect the strategy of ZHO, inspired by the Abu Dhabi Government’s strategy. He also praised the directives of HH the Minister of Interior to integrate people with special needs into society, through the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, which strives to provide them with job opportunities; another approach that falls in line with the Zayed Higher Organization's vision and mission, and its sublime humanitarian goals. "These measures highly serve our efforts to sponsor and rehabilitate people with special needs, to provide them with humanitarian care, and integrate them into the UAE society as efficient citizens that contribute to building and promoting national development,” he concluded.
Dr. Khaled Khalfan Al Ameri, Director of the Ministry of Interior’s Centers for Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Special Needs, said: “HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed has always dedicated special attention to people with special needs, based on his firm belief in the inherent capabilities of this category. This was also based on HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed’s commitment to instill the values of social responsibility and solidarity.
“Such attention is reflected in the unrelenting efforts of the Ministry of Interior’s Centers for Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Special Needs, which enjoys full support and followup from HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed since its establishment in 2002. The Centers have made significant achievements in terms of training, rehabilitating, and employing people with special needs, as well as integrating them in society; an approach that has earned the cCentres international praise from specialised organisations around the world, as a unique model regionally and globally. The graduates of the Centers have been highly competitive in the labor market and proven their efficiency and capability in work, based on the skills they acquired during the courses and training programmes they attended.”
As a part of HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed’s commitment to raise awareness about people with special needs, and the need to support them and integrate them in society, HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed has called upon all society institutions to provide job opportunities for people with special needs and to assume their social responsibility towards people with special needs by providing opportunities that match their capabilities and qualifications.
Amina Al Baloushi, Chairperson of the Emirates Women Police Association (EWPA), said: “The women police sector has always received unyielding support from HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed. The female staff members at the Ministry of Interior are encouraged to show their innovation and capabilities, as well as their competence in discharging their work duties according to the applicable standards. This support has empowered female staff members to excel in police work with high efficiency and professionalism, ultimately contributing to developing the services of the Ministry of Interior.”
She also noted that the EWPA is the result of the vision of HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed that aims to enhance the role of women in various policing fields. It also aims to enhance social awareness regarding the role of Emirati women in this vital sector, which is tasked with maintaining security and stability gains. She also asserted that this support has enabled the UAE to gain the membership of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) that has its regional office in Abu Dhabi. This is the result of the good reputation and international awards earned by the EWPA.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is an annual award given by the Arab Thought Foundation to an Arab leading personality whose life is productive and full of achievements and who had a positive and distinguished impact in development and leadership. In 2011, the Foundation presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in appreciation of his creativity and accomplishments.