Nigeria, Russia to Partner on Space Tech, STEM, Agriculture

Kehinde Fajobi

Nigeria is set to partner with Russia in areas such as Space Technology, Agriculture, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to drive socio-economic development.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mrs Esuabana Nko Asanye, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Russian Embassy, led by Sergei Pliushchov, Senior Counsellor for Trade and Economic Affairs, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mrs Asanye emphasised the importance of international collaboration in advancing scientific and technological innovation.

“Science does not operate in isolation. Nations must work together to strengthen bilateral relationships and drive progress,” she stated.

She added that the Ministry is keen on participating in training programmes and research opportunities, particularly in space technology, and urged the Russian government to support Nigerian scientific officers in this regard.

The Permanent Secretary also commended Russia for its willingness to collaborate, noting, “We appreciate the Russian Republic’s gesture in extending training opportunities to the Ministry. It shows their interest in Nigeria’s development.”

In his remarks, Mr Pliushchov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s growth.

He said, “The Republic of Russia is ready to collaborate with Nigeria in training and retraining scientific experts to enhance productivity.”

He further revealed that Russia is engaging online experts to help develop technical skills among Nigerians across various fields, underscoring the importance of skill development for economic advancement.