The Russian Federation has proposed an increase in its annual scholarship quota for Nigerian students, currently set at 220, subject to further engagement with Nigeria’s Ministry of Education.
The offer was made during a meeting held in Abuja between officials of the Russian Embassy and Nigeria’s Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
According to a statement issued by Nneka Anibeze, media adviser to Minister Hannatu Musawa, the discussions focused on cultural exchange, youth development through creative industries, and broader economic cooperation.
Musawa underscored the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s demographic advantage, noting that 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30.
She said, “There is a great need to harness their [youth] potential through the creative and cultural industries. We emphasise the use of culture and creativity to engage young people on global issues like youth employment and economic hardship, climate change, education, and mental health challenges.”
Russian Ambassador A.L. Podelyshev extended an invitation for Nigeria to participate in the Kazan Cultural Fair scheduled for November and proposed the revival of a Memorandum of Understanding on cultural cooperation that has been pending for two years.
He also expressed interest in facilitating reciprocal visits between Nigerian and Russian cultural groups.
Podelyshev said the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts is seeking collaboration with Nigerian institutions for joint training programmes and theatre initiatives. He added that Russia is prepared to assist in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage using digital tools such as 3D scanning and virtual reality.
The Nigerian ministry responded by proposing the inclusion of creative economy and audiovisual co-productions in future bilateral agreements. Both parties agreed to designate focal persons and establish timelines to ensure follow-through on the proposed initiatives.
The Russian Embassy stated that it is awaiting formal proposals from Nigeria outlining priority areas for cooperation, and reaffirmed its interest in advancing joint cultural, educational, and tourism projects.
