The Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, has reinforced the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding high-impact bilateral cooperation with the Russian Federation following a strategic engagement with the Trade Commissioner of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, Mr. Max Petrov, who paid him a courtesy visit today at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting underscored Nigeria’s resolve to leverage international partnerships to advance national priorities in research and development, emerging technologies, capacity building, and industrial innovation.
Dr. Udeh emphasised that the Ministry remains focused on translating diplomacy into tangible technological outcomes that directly support Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, job creation, and global competitiveness.
He stressed the importance of strengthening Research, Development and Technology Transfer, identifying joint research and development (R&D) as a key pillar of cooperation, with both countries exploring collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, renewable energy technologies, advanced engineering and materials science, digital transformation and smart systems.
The partnership framework will promote technology transfer and expand Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Capacity Development.
Dr. Udeh welcomed discussions on expanding scholarship opportunities and structured academic exchanges in priority STEM disciplines, including knowledge exchange, robotics, drone technologies for agriculture, and industrial automation—ensuring that innovation outcomes are effectively commercialised.
The Minister reiterated FMIST’s readiness to work closely with relevant Russian institutions to ensure Nigerian students and professionals gain access to high-quality technical training that strengthens national capacity in critical sectors, while highlighting the importance of fostering innovation-based trade and investment by encouraging partnerships between Nigerian technology ecosystems and Russian research institutions, startups, and technology firms.
Dr. Udeh stressed that FMIST will facilitate enabling policy frameworks and strategic linkages to support sustainable collaboration.
In his remarks, the Trade Commissioner of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, Mr. Max Petrov, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s innovation potential and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to building a results-driven partnership.
He stated that Nigeria represents one of Africa’s most dynamic innovation frontiers therefore, the Russian Federation is ready to deepen cooperation in science, advanced engineering, space technology, digital systems, and technical education with the objective to move swiftly from dialogue to implementation — establishing practical frameworks that will deliver measurable technological progress and industrial growth for both nations.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Philip Ndiomu Ebiogeh emphasised the Ministry’s determination to institutionalise the outcomes of the engagement through structured implementation mechanisms.
He stated that collaboration will be anchored on clear deliverables, timelines, and accountability structures emphasizing FMIST committed to establishing joint technical working groups and actionable programmes that will ensure knowledge transfer, capacity development, and commercialisation of innovation.
The engagement marks another step in FMIST’s ongoing efforts to deepen global scientific cooperation, attract technology-driven investment, and empower Nigerian innovators to compete at the highest levels.
Mrs. Pauline Sule,anipr
Head, Press and Public Relations
18/2/26
