Sisi interviewed by American teenage advocate Oduwole

CAIRO – 7 November 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said that the Egyptian people insisted on changing the state's situationto a better one, adding that they were ready to bear the cost and the hard consequences of development and progress.

"The [Egyptian] people rejected fascism, rejected discrimination on religious basis, and rejected extremism,” Sisi stated in an interview with the 16-year old Zuriel Elise Oduwole, an American education advocate and film-maker, on the sidelines of the 2018 World Youth Forum (WYF) held in South Sinai’s Sharm el-Sheikh. The interview was broadcasted by DMC on Tuesday, Nov 6.

President Sisi said that Egyptians “moved in millions to make Egypt a loving country for itself, its people and the whole world.” The president added that WYF was a message of peace from the Egyptian youth to all countries of the world.

Sisisaid that the Egyptians have exerted great efforts in all fields. He explained thatthe economic measures taken by the country could result in successful outcome thanks to the Egyptian people who have endured such procedures.

"The hope is in you and for you. Never lose your self-confidence or confidence in what you can achieve in the future,” President Sisi stated in response to Oduwole, the 100 Most Influential Young Africans – 2016 prize winner, who asked the president to send a message to Africa's youth.

Sisisaid that success always“requires effort and patience,” adding that hehopes he willbe remembered by people as someone whohasdone good work for his people and humanity.

Eventually, the young media journalist gave the president a book about people who live an inspirational life.

The WYF was concluded on Nov. 6. It witnessed the participation of around 5,000 young people of 163 nationalities. It also hosted numerous renowned figures, leaders and intellectuals from around the world.

ZurielOduwole was born in Los Angelestoa Nigerian father and a Mauritanian mother. When she was 12,she became the youngest filmmaker in the world to have a self-produced work screened commercially.

She was grantedthetitle of an honorary ambassador in Tanzania in 2013. In the same year,Oduwole was profiled in Forbes Magazine.