Egypt’s new culture minister, Ines Abdel-Dayem, has honoured her predecessor, Helmy El-Namnam, granting him the ministry’s memorial shield, in the presence of senior ministry officials.

In a special reception organised for El-Namnam at the ministry's headquarters in Cairo on Thursday, Abdel-Dayem spoke of her predecessor's achievements during his term, and his good relations with ministry employees.

El-Namnam gave a speech in which he thanked the Egyptian political leadership for supporting him during his term and wished Abdel-Dayem the best of luck in her new mission.

Abdel-Dayem was appointed minister of culture as part of a limited cabinet reshuffle that included four new ministers on 14 January.

Prior to her appointment as minister, Abdel-Dayem was chairman of the Cairo Opera House, a role she held since 2012.

She is the first woman appointed to the position of culture minister.

At the end of his speech, El-Namnam stressed the leading role of the Ministry of Culture throughout its history. The culture ministry was established in 1958 by President Gamal Abdel-Nasser.

The ministry oversees the Academy of Arts, the National Library and Archives, the General Egyptian Book Authority, the Supreme Council of Culture, the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, and the Cairo Opera House, among others.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture