Russia offers 220 Nigerians scholarships

In an effort to improve international educational links, the Russian government has announced a major project to offer 500,000 scholarships to international students, including Nigerians.

Andrey Podelyshev, the Russian ambassador to Nigeria, announced this development at a press conference in Abuja, stressing Russia’s updated plan to strengthen diplomatic and educational ties with Africa.

Supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the scholarship program seeks to boost the country’s foreign student population.

He pointed out that only about 2,000 students from Nigeria are presently enrolled in Russian universities, compared to over 32,000 African pupils.

Podelyshev added that at least 220 scholarships including tuition, living expenses, and travel expenses have already been awarded by the Russian government to Nigerian students for the 2025 academic year.

“The initiative is part of a broader policy to expand access to higher education for African students across various fields in Russian universities,” he stated.

Additionally, he emphasized that Russia is eager to incorporate education into significant bilateral economic endeavors, especially in vital areas like industrial growth and nuclear energy.

The Russian Ambassador went on to explain that Russia thinks that by preparing students for particular national tasks, they will be more inclined to return and support the development of their nation.

Yulia Motyakina, Head of the Agency’s International Department, stated during the occasion that the program was intended to build a society of individuals who would have the courage to report and speak the truth without bias at all times. 

Media professionals from all over the world were invited to participate. Motyakina said, “The issue of fake news has caused a lot of problems in the society. A lot of conflicts and political situations were also ignited as a result of fake news. This kind of news negatively influences people who can not differentiate between issues that are true and issues that are untrue.

Motyakina stated that 200 members of the Russian population also attended the media event, which was hosted in the Kaliningrad region of the 
country to which 100 foreign participants, including journalists and bloggers, were invited.