Cotabato City, August 13, 2023 – In a heartwarming gesture of collaboration and shared goals, a delegation of esteemed faculty members from the International Islamic University of Indonesia paid a courtesy call to the Office of the Wālī of Bangsamoro at the official residence of the Wālī in Cotabato City. The visit was a courtesy call that unfolded in a spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect.
Welcoming the Indonesian guests was none other than the Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the Wali, Omarkhalid Ampatuan. With genuine hospitality, he extended a warm welcome, fostering an atmosphere of openness and cooperation.
Dr. Nia Deliana, a distinguished member of the International Islamic University of Indonesia faculty, expressed the purpose of their visit. She revealed that the delegation was in Mindanao to conduct a community engagement program in a post-war community within Mindanao. The program intricately woven into their extensive research on conflict resolution and capacity building in Southeast Asia, aims to make lasting positive impacts in the region and their university.
The response from the Office of the Wālī was nothing short of supportive and encouraging. OIC, Omarkhalid Ampatuan assured the visiting scholars that the Office of the Wālī of Bangsamoro in is full support for their program. He said that the OWB is committed to promoting peace and development in Bangsamoro region, and that the delegation’s research would be a valuable contribution to this effort.
The delegation thanked the OIC-Wālī of Bangsamoro for his support and expressed their hope that their research would help to bring peace and prosperity to Bagsamoro region and around the world.
The courtesy call was a positive step in the ongoing efforts to promote peace and development in Mindanao. The delegation’s research will provide valuable insights into the challenges of conflict resolution in the region, and the Office of the Wālī’s support will help to ensure that the research is successful.
This visit by the faculty of the International Islamic University of Indonesia marked not only a diplomatic gesture but a new chapter of international partnership, one that envisions a harmonious and empowered Southeast Asia.(Datu Jabir Gandawali/ OWB)