Prof. Intisar Al-Zein Saghiroun, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Government of Sudan, expressed her immense happiness to be among distinguished art innovators. This came when addressing the special celebration for receiving the Japanese scholarship for the College of Music and Drama at Sudan University of Science and Technology, kindly provided by Japan and consisting of a large number of musical instruments, in the presence of Prof. Awad Saad Hassan, vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Mahdi Abbas Saad Shakak, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, Dr. Elfatih Ahmed Hassan, the University Principal, the Japanese Ambassador to Sudan, Takashi Hattori, Prof. Elfatih Hussien Ahmed, Dean of the College of Music and Drama.
The audience included the deans of colleges, professors, art innovators in the field of culture, theater, music, drama, students and alumni. The celebration took place in the theater of the College of Music and Drama.
Prof. Intisar Saghiroun said, “It is absolutely important that musical instruments be diverse similar to our culture. Music calls for peace and is the universally recognized language. The Government of Japan supports Sudan in various fields, and we thank them for this interest. Arts innovators are roving ambassadors inside and outside the country, carrying values and reflect sophistication and development".
The Japanese Ambassador to Sudan, Takashi Hattori, stated that "the grant includes (43) musical instruments, worth 71 thousand USD to meet the students’ desires, raise their abilities and help them train. The launch of the scholarship was long overdue due to the Covid19 pandemic, but we are now very pleased and excited to implement it and hand it over to students and start training on it, and we promise to communicate at various levels".
Prof. Awad Saad Hassan, vice chancellor of the university, pointed out the depth of the relationship with Japan and said "I am happy to be present at this celebration and amid the presence of such a large number of my country’s art innovators. Thank you to the State of Japan, and our relationship with Japan is moving forward, and its support has been continuous for a long time in the field of health, arts and others".
He also made it clear that the College of Music and Drama transmits love and beauty, and it is our gateway to the world to reflect the values of freedom and peace and the acceptance of others. We will work to develop it to become the latest model .. Thank you to its pioneers; deans, professors and innovators.
Prof. Elfatih Hussien Ahmed, Dean of the College of Music and Drama, praised what Japan offers through its embassy and said, “We praise communication and initiatives, and we hope that such partnerships will continue to reflect on the future and development of music and education in Sudan. We hope that experiences, training workshops and scholarships will be exchanged, and thank you to Japan.”
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahim, a professor at the College of Music and Drama and coordinator of the grant project, thanked the university administration for its interest in music in light of the glorious December revolution, and said, “Japan is a pioneer and sponsor of musical and artistic education in Sudan. Arts and its advancement in Sudan, the Japanese support helped to continue studying at the college and filled a large gap for it because it was suffering from a shortage of musical instruments, which are an integral part of the academic program. We are completely grateful for what Japan provided".
The ceremony included songs and music performed by the choir of the College of Music and. The Ambassador of Japan in Khartoum, the Director of Projects at the Embassy, and Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahim, the Professor at the College of Music and Drama and the coordinator of the grant project were honored, amid cheerfull interaction and warmth by all.