By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Vladimir Putin |
Russia is ramping up its educational partnership with Nigeria, offering more scholarships and fostering academic collaboration as part of a bold strategy to attract 500,000 international students.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Russian Ambassador Andrey Podelyshev revealed President Vladimir Putin’s ambitious plan to significantly increase foreign student enrollment in Russian universities. Currently, Africa contributes 32,000 students, with Nigeria accounting for just 2,000.
For the 2025 academic year, Russia has allocated 220 fully funded scholarships for Nigerian students, covering tuition, living expenses, and travel a key adjustment after Nigeria’s recent policy changes on scholarship funding.
Ambassador Podelyshev emphasized that Russia’s strategy goes beyond scholarships. By training Nigerian professionals in critical fields like nuclear energy and industrial development, Russia aims to support major projects such as the Ajaokuta steel plant revival and future nuclear energy initiatives.
"If students are trained for specific national projects, they’ll have stronger incentives to return and contribute," he said, addressing brain drain concerns.
Russia is also expanding its cultural footprint in Nigeria, supporting Russian language centers at universities like Lagos State University and exploring new partnerships in Abuja and beyond. The ambassador urged Nigerian institutions to collaborate more closely to make these programs a success.