Russia has shown interest in expanding its annual scholarship slots for Nigerian students, following discussions with Nigeria’s Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy in Abuja.
The Russian delegation, led by Ambassador Alexey Podelyshev, also proposed stronger cooperation in cultural preservation, digital heritage, and creative industry development.
During the meeting, Minister Hannatu Musawa highlighted the need to channel Nigeria’s large youth population into productive cultural and creative sectors. She noted the ministry’s focus on using arts and innovation to address unemployment, mental health, and education gaps.
The two countries also discussed reviving a long-standing cultural agreement and exploring new areas such as audiovisual production and joint theatre training.
Russia extended an invitation for Nigeria to participate in a cultural fair in Kazan later this year, while both sides agreed to develop a clear roadmap for future collaboration.
