Asyut is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is in the south of the country, and covers a stretch of the Nile. Its capital goes by the same name. The city of Asyut is a city of approximately 1.5 million people. It is home to the University of Assiut, one of the largest universities in Egypt outside of Cairo. Asyut is also the location of the Lillian Thrasher Orphanage .