ARMM governor accepts pioneering leadership fellowship in Malaysia

COTABATO CITY – Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has accepted an offer from the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) to participate in its International Staff Attachment Program.The course, which started on Sept. 19 and will end on Nov. 19, covers the following topicsand* Islamic leadership and governance* peace tolerance and combating terrorism* sustainable development framework* Islamic microfinance* endowment* halal management and* community Islamic education. The program will help us in ARMM further develop our anti-violent extremism efforts and help the regional government and, hopefully, the next Bangsamoro government on its peace and security objectives, the governor said.Before entering public service in Mindanao, Gov. Hataman was very active in the civil society movement–specifically in peace initiatives, as well as efforts to uplift the socio-economic condition of Moros in Mindanao.Despite the challenges brought by the spread of extremism in the southern Philippines, Gov. Hataman’s focus during his tenure as ARMM’s chief executive has included efforts to address these issues and strengthen efforts to build peace and promote development in the region.University officials said the program is USIM’s first fellowship awarded to a regional chief executive in Asia as endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.The ARMM governor was invited by the university through Professor Dato’ Dr. Musa Ahmad, the USIM vice-chancellor. It was facilitated by Dr. Zulkifly Baharom, the chief executive officer of the university’s Sejahtera Leadership Initiative.In a statement, the university said this program, will constitute sharing of knowledge, exchanges of ideas, public lectures, and preparation of report covering the specific study on ‘peace, security, anti-violent and extremism program through Islamic leadership and sustainable development approach. It will also include relevant site visits, as well as courtesy calls on Malaysian officials–including Federal Ministers, State Chief Ministers, and heads of agencies in relation to topics and discussions covered by the program.Gov. Hataman said ARMM officials have received offers from various foreign institutions in the past to participate in Islamic leadership and governance training programsand We’ve chosen training courses in this country (Malaysia) because of close proximity and similarity of culture to that of Mindanao. In 2014, Gov. Hataman was also awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship in the US in recognition of his accomplishments as ARMM’s top official, as well as his track record as a civil society leader. (Bureau of Public Information)