Kuwait launches Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development

KUWAIT, Nov 9 (KUNA) -- The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) launched Monday Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development to encourage innovative initiatives for the advancement of economic, social, human resources, and infrastructure development in the African continent.
"The USD one million-prize is an initiative from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah," KFAS Director General Dr. Adnan Shehabuddin said in a press conference on the occasion.
He added that His Highness the Amir, who chairs KFAS Board of Directors, announced the prize for the first time in the third African Arab Summit hosted by the State of Kuwait in November 2013.
"His Highness the Amir initiative aims to encourage and incentivize African human resources and build a solid ground for science, technology, creativity, and enhancing the cultural environment," Shehabuddin said.
He expounded that the prize is also meant to show the appreciation, recognition of the best studies, scientific projects, applied research, and innovative initiatives, which within the Health field have made significant impact and lasting influence in advancing progress to economic and social development in Africa.
"The prize should also highlight successes within the following areas: food security, health and education," he said.
He noted that the awarded projects should help African nations to overcome poverty, hunger, lack of potable water, injustice or to improve health care, literacy and the allocation of economic resources.
"The prize's cash sum would be awarded along with a gold medal, shield and certificate of recognition," he clarified.
Shehabuddin pointed out that the prize is named "Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize" after a Kuwaiti physician who spent his lifetime dedicated towards helping the poor in Africa in the field of health and education.
The KFAS would receive the prize nomination application and research papers from today till 30 November 2015.
He underlined that the nominated candidates' research work or projects and initiatives must be innovative and must have achieved high-impact in line with international standards for the prize; must be of paramount importance in promoting significant economic, social, human resources and infrastructure development in the African continent within the announced field of the prize.
The submitted research work of a nominated candidate should be composed of studies and applied research, published in referred journals and recognized at a global level within the announced field. The research outcome needs to have been applied after publication in African countries within the past ten years. Adequate supporting evidence needs to be provided, he stressed.
The nominations are to be accepted from institutions and scientific centers (universities, institutes and centers of scientific research) as well as from competent regional or international and UN organizations and awards and former winners in the field of the prize or former evaluation members. Nominations will only be accepted through institutions or other possible nominators mentioned above.
Al-Sumait (1947-2013) is an extraordinary man who dedicated his life to helping poor and orphans in remote and destitute areas across the African continent.
He spent over three decades of his life in his philanthropic work in the African continent; participating in providing care for thousands of orphans, the drilling of around 9,500 artesian wells and the establishment of 860 schools, four universities and 204 Islamic centers.
Though his charitable work covered the majority of African countries, Al-Sumait gave special attention to countries which suffer from famine, hunger and spread of diseases such as Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola.
He remained undeterred by obstacles and undertook a number of trips deep into the African jungles and subjected himself to the dangers and terrors of travel through its remote forests in order to carry out charitable mission. These were selfless actions which can be considered to be from the acts of a living martyrdom frequently subjecting himself to danger in his relentless efforts to bring peace, aid and relief to Africa; be it with a loaf of bread in his hand (food), or a lamp (essential supplies) or a book (education).
Al-Sumait was a medical practitioner who received his medical degree from Baghdad, diploma from Liverpool and researched in liver cancer at Kings College London.
In 1981, when he was 35, he established the Africa Muslim Agency (AMA) that was later renamed as Direct Aid where he served as chairman from 1981 to 2008. He devoted his whole life to this noble cause.
During his life, he founded a number of charitable organizations and was member in several other organizations. He has occupied several posts in medical and public action bodies.
In addition to Direct Aid, Al-Sumait was co-founder of Malawi Muslims Committee, Kuwaiti Relief Committee, International Islamic Charity Authority and International Islamic Council for Call & Relief - Kuwait.
Al-Sumait was awarded a vast number of awards, trophies and certificates, in acknowledgement of his efforts in charity work. (end) zak.ns.ibi