Tanzanians to welcome Aga Khan tomorrow

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THE DIAMOND JuBILEE Building

His HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN

1957. DAMONDUBLEE - 2017

MEDIA ADVISORY – 10 OCTOBER 2017

Tanzanians to welcome Aga Khan tomorrow

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 10 October 2017 — His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is scheduled to arrive in Dar es Salaam tomorow Wednesday 11th October on the second leg of his East Africa tour for a two-day visit at the invitation of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. John P. Magufuli.

The visit is part of a series of visits that coincide with the commemoration of the Aga Khan’s Diamond Jubilee – which marks 60 years as the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community. The Aga Khan acceded to the Ismaili Imamat on 11th July 1957.

In addition to being occasions for celebration, Jubilees in the Shia Ismaili Muslim tradition have traditionally served as opportunities to launch or advance social, cultural and economic development projects. These include hospitals, schools, universities and financial institutions that serve people of all backgrounds and faiths.

His Highness the Aga Khan is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) – a global network dedicated to improving the quality of life of all. It has made substantive contributions all over the world, including inTanzania where it has a longstanding history.

The AKDN’s institutions are among Tanzania’s largest socio-economic agencies and impact the lives of all Tanzanians. Some of these examples include the Aga Khan Foundation’s endeavors to increase income opportunities for over 100,000 smallholder farmers and over 9,200 community-based savings groups in Southern Tanzania.

The Aga Khan Health Services has the country’s top state-of-the-art hospital in Dar es Salaam, as well as 5 primary medical centers and 8 outreach centres across the country that have provided increased access to health for communities in rural and urban areas.

The Aga Khan University, through the Graduate School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Institution of Educational Development, has awarded over 250 Master’s Degrees and educated over 3,000 trainers in Tanzania. In Zanzibar, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture restored the seafront Forodhani Park and engaged in conservation planning for the Old Dispensary, amongst others, as AKDN promotes culture as a ‘trampoline for change’ for development.

The Aga Khan arrived from Kampala where he attended the Independence Day celebration upon the invitation of the Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and was decorated with the highest civilian Ugandan order, The Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa, The Grand Master, for his humanitarian efforts.

While in Dar es Salaam, the Aga Khan will also meet members of his community.

MEDIA

Members of the press are invited to witness the reception of the Aga Khan.  Only accredited members of the press who have submitted their intention to cover the airport arrival will be permitted to Nyerere International Airport on Wednesday morning to witness Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Augustine Mahiga receive the Aga Khan.

WHAT: Arrival of His Highness the Aga Khan to Dar Es Salaam– press only event

WHEN: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 10:30am
           (media are required to be in position no later than 8:30 am)

WHERE: Nyerere International Airport-Terminal 1

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