JEDDAH: A prominent Dammam-based Indian expat businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, who runs the Eram group of companies, has received the International Humanitarian Award in Malaysia.

He accepted the award — instituted by jointly by the OIC-funded International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and Kerala’s Ma’din Academy — from IIUM President Zaleha Kamarudin in Kuala Lumpur.

The awarded is in recognition of his “consistent efforts and significant contributions to enhance the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people in various parts of the world,” according to a press statement. The delegates were moved by the rather unconventional and humble acceptance speech by Ahmed in which he paid homage to his mother for instilling philanthropic values in him during his impressionable years.

“It is not just the responsibility of educational institutions to instill values in children, but it is imperative for parents and foster families to teach children to reach out to the underprivileged people,” said Ahmed.

The award is part of the annual International Interfaith Harmony Conference jointly organized with the Department of National Unity and Integration, Prime Minister’s Department, on its campus on Wednesday.

The past recipients of the award include Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, Adel Al-Falah, Yasser Mohammed Abdo Yamani and Yusuffali M.A.

“Ahmed embodies the philosophy of leadership which is focused on creating collaborative new space in the service of others,” said the jury, headed by Dr. Robert Dickson Crane, an adviser to the late US President Richard Nixon.

Eram Scientific has been working in the field of community hygiene and sanitation. Recently, it received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant for Reinvent the Toilet Challenge for conducting research on toilet hygiene, non-depletion of water resources and energy conservation solutions.