Hosted by Ali Saif Al Dhabahi in Kalba

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, July 8th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

The Law Respect Culture Bureau at the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Interior organized a Ramadan Council on Monday evening. Participants at the council, which was hosted by Ali Saif Al Dhabahi in Kalba, Sharjah, called for launching a Family Award for the Best Family in nurturing leading and distinguished sons and daughters, and for putting forth the appropriate criteria for this award. They also stressed the need to identify the relevant entities to implement the award (media institutions-family development centers).   The council also called for engaging institutions concerned with the youth, by creating new and purposeful initiatives aimed at nurturing exceptional leaders. The participants also stressed the need to infuse the exceptional leader’s qualities and skills into the educational curricula.   The council that was moderated by journalist Hamid Jassem Al Zaabi, called for applying creative learning and innovative teaching methods at all stages of education, and focus on teaching students the necessary skills needed by future leaders. Moreover, participants urged students to exercise leadership skills, strategies for critical thinking and creative thinking, by improving thinking skills through teaching methods as well as promoting a culture of thinking in all school programs.

The council also stressed the importance of constantly developing curricula with a view to nurture a distinguished generation of leaders capable of integrating thinking strategies and interacting with real life situations. This can be achieved by reshaping the educational curricula in a way that reflects future needs, and helps to train our children to use the different thinking applications and skills, as well as the appropriate skills for exploration, discussion, analysis and cognitive mental processes.

Moreover, the council highlighted the need to develop educational programs through the various media. These programs would focus on practicing creative thinking and strengthening human and moral values, which help children, acquire creative thinking skills and good behavior; and contribute to nurturing a generation of distinguished leaders in the future.

The Ramadan Council tackled the theme "United in Responsibility: the role of family in nurturing Exceptional Leaders". It was attended by Sheikh Dr. Abdul Aziz ben Ali Al Nuaimi, General Secretary of the Ajman-based Al Ihsan Charity Association; Dr. Suleiman Moussa Al Jassem, former President  of Zayed University; Dr. Abdullah Saleh Al Suwaiji, former Head of the Education Council; Dr. Saif Salem Al Ghoul, Dean of the College of Humanities in the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU); Dr. Ali Obaid Al Zaabi, Director of the University of Sharjah, Khorfakkan Branch;  Dr. Hussein Taha Al Zubaidi, faculty member at Ajman University; Dr. Ayman Waleed Al Nabhan, Head of Al Ru'ya Ru’ya for Consulting and Training; Expert Saaduddine Eshtewi, Leaders Development Expert; Advisor Ali Abdullah bin Issa, Appeal Judge at Dubai Courts; Lieutenant Colonel Obaid Al Mughni from the Social Support Centers Department; Dr. Mahmoud Mohamed Fikri, former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health; and a number of citizens.

Ali Seif Al Dhabahi, host of the council, welcomed the attendees; praising the Ministry of Interior's efforts in organizing such purposeful councils. He emphasized the councils’ importance in boosting confidence and cohesion within society, and in underlining the ministry's vision and strategy to achieve its goals through such councils.

In his speech, first speaker Dr. Abdullah Saleh Al Suwaiji, former Head of the Education Council and former member of the Executive Council, said: "In light of the existing changes and developments occurring in today’s world, there is substantial need for concerted efforts among all categories of society  in nurturing exceptional leaders." He also noted that the country’s leadership has spared no effort and leveraged all circumstances and resources to create exceptional leaders; stressing the importance of having educational institutions that help in preparing  a conscious generation through educational programs to create  exceptional leaders. "The family also plays a vital role in nurturing a distinguished leader by listening to children and dealing with them," he added; noting the importance of encouraging children to undertake responsible roles, help them overcome challenges and teaching them the values of social responsibility.

Sheikh Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, General Secretary of the Ajman-based Al Ihsan Charity Association, said that 7 years old children and below  represent the nucleus of the exceptional leader. "At this age, children are prone to acquire and develop the necessary skills of leadership. It is also the best time to instill the values of these adults' councils and the importance of family cohesion,” he said.

Dr. Ali Obaid Al Zaabi, Assistant Deputy Director of Sharjah University for Financial and Administrative Affairs and former member of the Federal National Council, noted that a true leader has the ability to influence others and to encourage them to forge ahead towards achieving the goal. "Families can create leaders through trust, good example and transparency," he continued.

Dr. Saif Salem Al Ghoul, Dean of the College of Humanities at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) said: “A stimulating environment helps nurture a distinguished and exceptional leader. Parents or educators can also be a role model for children to emulate. Therefore, a family must achieve the best possible balance between children and the social reality.”

For his part, Dr. Ayman Al Nabhan, President and CEO of Ru’ya for Consulting and Training, highlighted  the family’s role in nurturing leaders, “the process consists of two phases: instilling and preparing. Children are infused with Islamic, religious, and social values, and are given a role model to emulate. As Muslims, we live by the teachings of the most distinguished role model, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who taught us ethics and gave us the good example, and we follow in his footsteps.”

Adding further, he said that, “Preparation is achieved in an exceptional environment. The family is the fertile ground to create a suitable environment to inculcate the necessary features in children, through social, psychological and religious education as set out by the family and aimed at nurturing a leading personality.”

Dr. Sulaiman Moussa Al Jassem, Former President of Zayed University, said that the founding father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May God have mercy on his soul) was an exceptional leader, as well as the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who supported late Sheikh Zayed. He added: “Sheikh Zayed called for dedicating substantial attention to agriculture as well as striving to prepare distinguished leaders to maintain a sustainable environment.”  He pointed out that the UAE Government encourages all efforts to prepare outstanding leaders through an exceptional family, with a view to achieve an exceptional society.

For his part,  Khamis Al Suwaidi, indicated that self-evaluation and enhancing communication with children is  an essential and necessary requirement for building exceptional leaders; stressing that equipping children with self-confidence helps to develop their personality in their quest to become leaders in the future.

Expert Saaduddine Eshtewi, Leaders Development Expert, discussed “the difference between the leader and the outstanding leader”. He said: “A recent study has shown that 2% of children are born leaders, 2% don’t have what it takes to be leaders and 96% of them can be taught how to be leaders. Cultivating leadership in children can help become the great leaders of the future. It is a multi-stages process, a discipline that can only be taught by a leading father. Moreover, there are indications that show if children are inclined to become leaders.

The council also discussed the “leadership challenge” model a study on how to identify a leader and his characteristics. “An exceptional leader believes in both the value and the added value. He also believes in leading the team and encouraging them to achieve their coveted goals. This model can be applied within the family and the workplace,” said Dr. Suleiman Abdullah Sarhan Al Zaabi, member of the Sharjah Advisory Council.

Al Zaabi emphasized the importance of respecting children’s opinions, and the need for fathers to bring forth mind-cultivating ideas. This would help improve children’s both inherent and acquired skills over the years, ensure their compliance with customs and traditions, and inculcate the religious deterrent in them.

At the end of his speech, Al Zaabi said: “A father is a role model to his children, and nurturing an exceptional leader can be achieved by providing a good role model, an enlightened vison and a sense of challenge and responsibility.”  For his part, Dr. Mahmoud Mohamed Fikri, former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, said that an exceptional leader is characterized by his positive energy and strong ambition. He also emphasized the importance of instilling the sense of creativity in the leader, by bringing forth new ideas and problem solving methods. “An exceptional leader meets challenges head-on,” said Dr. Fikri.

In conclusion, Mr. Abdullah Saif Al-Yamahi, former Chairman of the Kalba Municipal Council, said: “We are blessed with exceptional leaders; hence, we look forward to cultivating leadership qualities in our children, in order to enable them to take part in the renaissance and development process, which our country is witnessing in all areas.”

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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