Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, has reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to deepening high-impact bilateral cooperation with Russia following a strategic engagement with the Russian Trade Commission.
The Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh made the remarks when the Trade Commissioner of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, Max Petrov, paid him a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Pauline Sule, the Head, Press and Public Relations, issued a statement saying the meeting highlighted Nigeria’s determination to leverage international partnerships to advance national priorities in research and development, emerging technologies, capacity building, and industrial innovation.
Dr Udeh said the Ministry was focused on translating diplomacy into tangible technological outcomes that will support Nigeria’s economic diversification, create jobs, and enhance global competitiveness.
He stressed the importance of strengthening research, development, and technology transfer, noting that joint R&D forms a key pillar of the collaboration.
The Minister also welcomed discussions on expanding scholarship opportunities and structured academic exchanges in priority STEM disciplines, including robotics, drone technologies for agriculture, and industrial automation, ensuring that innovation outcomes are effectively commercialised.
Partnership Implementation and Global Cooperation
Dr Udeh reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to work closely with Russian institutions to provide Nigerian students and professionals access to high-quality technical training, while fostering innovation-based trade and investment through partnerships between Nigerian technology ecosystems and Russian research institutions, startups, and technology firms.
Mr Petrov expressed confidence in Nigeria’s innovation potential and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to building a results-driven partnership.
He described Nigeria as one of Africa’s most dynamic innovation frontiers, pledging Russia’s readiness Russia in deepening cooperation in science, advanced engineering, space technology, digital systems, and technical education, moving swiftly from dialogue to practical implementation.
Philip Ebiogeh, the Permanent Secretary, highlighted the Ministry’s determination to institutionalise the outcomes of the engagement through structured implementation mechanisms.
The engagement marks another step in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology’s ongoing efforts to strengthen global scientific cooperation, attract technology-driven investment, and empower Nigerian innovators to compete at the highest levels
RN
