News

The winners of the 2018 Naseej Academy Library and Information Pioneers Award were announced at the opening ceremony of the 29th Annual Conference of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information (AFLI). The conference was held in Port Sudan, Republic of the Sudan, on November 19–21, 2018.

Professor Radia Adam Mohamed Fadl Mawla is currently a professor of information sciences and libraries at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. She has held several leading academic positions in Sudan, including: Head of Library and Documentation Department, and Director of the Center for Information Sciences, Libraries and Archives in the Faculty of Arts, University of Khartoum; and Dean of Libraries at Omdurman Ahlia University.

Professor Radia established libraries and information centers for a number of governmental and academic organizations, such as the Library of African and Asian Studies at Omdurman Ahlia University Library, the Information Center at the World Trade Commission, and the Women's Documentation Center at Ahfad University for Women, Sudan. She has also participated in numerous professional workshops, and has authored many published works and scientific papers.

Professor Radia has provided a wide range of advisory services in her role as technical bureau consultant to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Council of Ministers in digital libraries, and to many other bodies, such as: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German program "DSE", the National Commission for UNESCO, the Syrian Arab Club for Information, and the World Trade Information Commission (CWTOA).

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Professor Abdel Razek Mustafa Younes Is one of the most prominent figures in the field of libraries and information in Jordan and the Arab world. He is currently a professor emeritus at the University of Jordan, where he worked as a professor from 1983 until 2005. He is a part-time professor at Al-Balqa' Applied University, Zarqa University and Philadelphia University Jordan. In addition, he has worked as a documentation expert with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sultanate of Oman.

Professor Abdel Razek has authored a number of publications and research reports. He has supervised master's and doctoral dissertations, and has held consulting positions in various bodies, such as: Learning Resources in Sultanate of Oman, ALECSO, and the Jordanian National Information Center, among others.

Naseej Academy, the sponsor of the award, hopes that it will assist the Arab library and information sector to achieve a competitive advantage by highlighting efforts and initiatives that have the potential to inspire others and that enhance the position of libraries in their community. 

Held annually, this prestigious award is granted to AFLI members – severally or jointly – in recognition of their pioneering efforts and dedication to the library and information industry, and of their contributions to the advancement of Arabic libraries and library science in the Arab world. Based on Naseej Academy’s vision to support outstanding individuals, the Library and Information Pioneers Award, offered in partnership with AFLI, aims to enhance library and information studies, promote research development and motivate creativity.

Naseej Academy is a non-profit initiative that seeks to support and develop the leadership of the library, information and knowledge sectors in the Arab world. It offers a comprehensive range of courses, workshops and continuing education programs in cooperation with local, regional and international agencies. To that end, Naseej Academy is committed to enlisting the world’s industry experts in shaping the future of libraries, and in developing and motivating librarians.

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