Nigeria, Russia Deepen AI, Renewable Energy Collaboration
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has commenced strategic discussions with Russia aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to an artificial intelligence-driven, innovation-powered economy.
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Mr Kingsley Udeh, disclosed this in a statement shared on his verified X page following a meeting with Max Petrov, Trade Commissioner of the Russian Federation, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Udeh said the engagement reflects the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen high-impact bilateral cooperation with Russia as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to diversify the economy and expand technology-driven employment.
“Our discussions focused on translating diplomacy into measurable technological outcomes that support economic diversification, job creation and global competitiveness,” the minister stated.
He explained that both sides explored collaboration in critical areas, including artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy technologies and advanced engineering. The talks also covered digital transformation and smart systems, with emphasis on research and development, as well as structured technology transfer.
According to Udeh, partnerships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education featured prominently in the discussions. Proposed areas of cooperation include scholarships, academic exchanges and specialised technical training in robotics, drone technologies for agriculture and industrial automation.
The minister stressed that the government is determined to prioritise knowledge transfer, capacity development and the commercialisation of innovation as central pillars of national growth.
He added that the Russian delegation expressed confidence in Nigeria’s innovation potential and signalled readiness to transition from dialogue to concrete implementation.
Udeh said the ministry will work towards establishing joint technical working groups, facilitating the development of enabling policy frameworks, and developing actionable programmes to attract technology-driven investment and position Nigeria as a leading innovation hub in Africa.
