Yunus Emre Institute opened a new center in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, after its newly commissioned institute centers in Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, South Africa, Somali, Senegal, Tunisia and Rwanda.

Abuja Yunus Emre Institute’s opening was held with a grand ceremony on October 21, 2021. Emine Erdoğan, the wife of the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also participated in the opening ceremony. In the ceremony, Emine Erdoğan was accompanied by Hülya Çavuşoğlu, the wife of Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Şule Akar, the wife of Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar, and the President of Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Şeref Ateş. Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture Lai Muhammed, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters and Social Development Sadiye Umar Farouq, the wife of the Nigerian President Dolapo Osinbajo as well as many other guests participated in the opening ceremony.

THE GATES OF ANATOLIAN WISDOM WILL BE OPENED FOR NIGERIANS

Emine Erdoğan açılış töreninde yaptığı konuşmada başkent Abuja'daki Yunus Emre Enstitüsü sayesinde Anadolu'nun bilgelik kapılarının Nijeryalılara açılacağını belirtti. 

In her speech, Emine Erdoğan mentioned that the gates of Anatolian wisdom will be opened for Nigerians thanks to Yunus Emre Institute in capital Abuja. 

Emine Erdoğan participated in the opening of Abuja Yunus Emre Institute and the launch of her book "My Travels to Africa". In her speech, Emine Erdoğan stated her great happiness for being in Nigeria once again after five years.

Erdoğan mentioned that it was a great pleasure for her to realize the opening of Yunus Emre Institute and present her book "My Travels to Africa" and thanked Nigerians for their hospitality and heartfelt welcome.

Erdoğan highlighted that the institutes opened in friendly and sister countries were a sign of importance attested to the relationships and said the following:

"We will be opening the gates of Anatolian wisdom to our Nigerian siblings through this institute. While you will have the opportunity to understand the Turkish culture better, you will also be able to learn the Turkish language, if you so wish. Yunus Emre is an Anatolian folk poet who occupies the hearts of Turkish people. However, his message is universal. His verses filled with wisdom talk about the human love. It is a great happiness for us to deliver the message of Yunus Emre, who left deep marks in Anatolia, to Abuja through our Institute. We have established 64 Yunus Emre Institutes in 53 countries. Literature, culture and art are the most pleasant tools that strengthen our bonds with friendly countries. In his famous saying, Yunus Emre says, 'Come let us get acquainted, let us make it easy, let us love and be loved, the world will be left to no one.' This saying, which includes exceedingly deep meanings in its plainness, is the beginning of all fellowships."

Emine Erdoğan presented her thanks to everyone contributing by wishing good fortune for the opening of Abuja Yunus Emre Institute.

"I ENTRUSTED IT TO THE PERMANENCE OF WRITING"

Erdoğan mentioned that she had the opportunity to visit many African countries since 2005 thanks to the African initiative started by Turkey and stated that she accompanied President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in many of his visits and that she especially wanted to visit African countries

Erdoğan mentioned that her admiration for the continent increased with her first visit to Africa and she witnessed many states of being human, and said the following:

"In these travels, you internalize all humanity as one large family despite the cultural differences between us. You see that human heart does not need any interpreters. You understand that the love and tears of all mothers of the earth are the same. In other words, you meet the universality of being human. I felt the need to write all the things I have collected in my heart throughout this process. I entrusted the marks left by Africa in me, which is a source of inspiration in itself, to the permanence of writing. It was quite meaningful for this memoir to correspond with the opening of our Yunus Emre Institute. I believe that it explains how cultural interaction builds bridges between peoples.

Emine Erdoğan highlighted that Africa was a chest that virtually harbored all the treasures of the world and said that the continent was home to more than 2,000 languages and ethnicities and had a great potential with its population over 1 billion.

"We see Africa as the rising star of the 21st century. We are in solidarity with the entire African continent for it to reach the place it deserves" said Erdoğan and pointed out that the increase in the number of embassies in the African continent meant that the relationships deepened.

"OUR FRIENDSHIP INSPIRED MANY GREAT PROJECTS"

Emine Erdoğan highlighted that there were only 12 embassies of Turkey in Africa in 2002 but now they had a total of 43 embassies, and said the following:

"We hope to increase this number to 49 in the next period. The number of African embassies in Ankara rose from 10 in 2008 to 37 in 2021. Our Turkish Airlines is also adding new routes to its African flights. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they had been organizing flights to 60 locations in 40 countries. With the lift of travel bans, our flight numbers increased, and we once again come together in many locations. Our friendship with Africa inspired many great projects that were patroned by me. We established African Handiworks Market and Cultural House in Ankara in 2016. Thanks to this center, we created a fair market where African women could get fair compensation for their works. The 'African Cuisine' and 'African Proverbs' that we have contributed to the literature were added to the libraries as a product of our cultural approach. Every year, we organize special events for May 25 African Day and strive for contributing to Africa's vision of 'a better continent'. The revenues of my book are directly transferred to the African Handiworks Market and Cultural House. I hope it becomes a meaningful contribution to our solidarity with the African women."

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTINENT"

Erdoğan highlighted that the relationship of Turkey with Africa was not built on the grounds of donations and grants and stated that they have mobilized resources as the improvement and development of the continent was important for the common future of the world.

Erdoğan stated that they provided education support to African countries within the scope of the human oriented foreign policy and said the following:

"It is a great pleasure for us that some 14,000 African students benefited from the scholarships provided by our country. We have also stood by the countries that faced food safety issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the greatest disasters seen in the world. We have realized special aid programs in many countries for fragile communities. An African proverb that I like very much says: 'Charity does not come from wealth but from heart'. I would like to mention that we stand by Africa primarily with our heart. We will continue to contribute to the peace, stability, prosperity and development of the continent just like we did until today. I hope success and happiness will be permanent in African geography."

Erdoğan thanked everyone who contributed to the program and mentioned her desire to come together once again at the earliest.

After the opening, Emine Erdoğan visited Abuja Yunus Emre Institute and the photography exhibition "Every Voice Raised in Africa Echoes in Turkey" comprised of Anadolu Agency photographs and had a commemoration photograph taken with the guests.

"OUR PURPOSE IS TO CREATE A REALISTIC PERCEPTION OF TURKEY"

The President of Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Şeref Ateş mentioned their pleasure in opening a new center of the institute, which is the cultural ambassador of Turkey in all corners of the world, with the presence of Emine Erdoğan.

Ateş pointed out that Yunus Emre Institute organized its activities to further the international relations of Turkey and said the following:

"Our country has a rich cultural background and deserves to be in the world agenda with its culture, art and cultural heritage. Culture also serves a great function in terms of spoiling the game of certain foci that want to prison our country within infertile agendas and misperceptions. In this respect, it is extremely important for Yunus Emre Institute to create an agenda of Turkey based on culture."

Prof. Ateş mentioned that they understood the heavy burden assumed by Yunus Emre Institute to duly represent the thousands of years of cultural accumulation of Turkey and provide it for the benefit of the humanity and continued his words as follows:

"I would like to present my thanks to Emine Erdoğan, who always supported us in fulfilling this heavy responsibility. As the Institute, our purpose in the countries where we opened centers is to create a realistic perception of Turkey by establishing open and transparent bonds of humanity and to increase the recognition, awareness and reputation of Turkey.

Prof. Ateş reminded that 2021 was declared the "Year of Turkish Language and Yunus Emre" by President Erdoğan and emphasized that opening a Yunus Emre Institute in such an important year was especially important and valuable.