Under the patronage of Prof.
Yasser Magdy Hatata, President of Fayoum University, Prof. Arafa Sabry Hassan,
Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, attended a symposium
organized by the Faculty of Agriculture in cooperation with the Nile Media
Center of the State Information Service, entitled "Youth and National
Security." The symposium took place on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the
faculty.
The symposium was attended by Prof.
Bothaina Youssef Fouad, Dean of the Faculty; Prof. Gamal Mahmoud, Vice Dean for
Community Service and Environmental Development; Prof. Gamal Farag, Vice Dean
for Education and Student Affairs; Professor Mohamed Ahmed Hashem, Director of
the Nile Media Center; Prof. Hanan Hamdy, Program Officer at the Center; and a
number of faculty members and students.
At the beginning of his speech,
Prof. Arafa Sabry Hassan congratulated the new students on the start of the new
academic year. He also saluted the Egyptian Armed Forces on the 52nd
anniversary of the glorious October victory, a fragrant memory that instills in
souls a sense of pride and belonging, one that the nation's heroes laid down
with their precious blood, ensuring that Egypt's flag will always fly high.
He emphasized that Egypt is a
country of great stature, and that this stature will remain preserved by its
youth, who represent the vast majority of the Egyptian people. He pointed out
that wars are no longer the traditional ones of the past, but have taken on new
forms known as "fourth- and fifth-generation warfare," targeting
youth in particular to tamper with national security by obscuring awareness,
loyalty, and belonging. He explained that national security also includes cybersecurity
for information to protect the nation from internal and external challenges
that attempt to exploit youth to spread lies and rumors, distort facts, and
mislead public opinion. He emphasized the importance of religious and family
awareness, moderation, and avoiding extremism, in addition to the importance of
rational and purposeful media.
He called on youth to obtain
information from reliable sources and to be wary of rumors and conspiracies
that target national identity and seek to destabilize through social media and
digital platforms. He added that the cohesion of the Egyptian people is a
national duty, and that protecting the nation's security is a collective
responsibility that falls on all its citizens. He emphasized that achieving
comprehensive social, political, and economic development requires an
integrated societal awareness in line with the state's Vision 2030 for
Sustainable Development.
For her part, Prof. Bothaina
Youssef Fouad emphasized the importance of the symposium in raising youth
awareness of the challenges facing the state and its national security,
particularly fourth- and fifth-generation warfare and its impact on youth and
society. She noted that the symposium highlights the methods used by hostile forces
to spread chaos and destabilize through social media, emphasizing the pivotal
role of youth in confronting these challenges as they serve as the nation's
first line of defense and safety valve.
Prof. Mohamed
Ahmed Hashem also explained that the symposium aims to raise community
awareness among university students, as the nation's pillar and strength, by
educating them not to be swayed by rumors and to understand the challenges and
conspiracies being hatched against the Egyptian state to destabilize its
security and stability. In the same context, Ms. Hanan Hamdy pointed out that
the symposium seeks to introduce young people to the concept of national
security, explaining that modern wars are wars of the mind, aiming to dismantle
the social fabric and sow doubt in state institutions and its political
leadership. She emphasized the role of the State Information Service in
spreading cultural awareness and discussing societal issues to strengthen
national belonging.
