ROSATOM Russian universities partner Abuja University on Nuclear education

The University of Abuja is going into a strategic partnership with the Consortium of supporting universities of ROSATOM in the field of nuclear education for the nuclear industry in Nigeria. As part of the project “International Cooperation in Nuclear Education”, a cycle of lectures to popularise Russian nuclear educational programs in African countries is being conducted. The leading supporting universities of Rosatom State Corporation (NRNU MEPhI, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Moscow Power Engineering Institute) and with the support of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (PFUR) all held educational lectures in Nigeria from July 29 till August 4. 

The lectures focused on the peculiarities of education in the supporting universities of ROSATOM in nuclear and related specialties. The lectures were held for schoolchildren, students and members of academic staff in Nigeria. As part of the event, a meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Abuja took place (Abuja, Nigeria). The meeting discussed cooperation in the field of nuclear education with the Consortium of supporting universities of ROSATOM. After an open lecture and presentation of capabilities of NRNU MEPhI and Tomsk Polytechnic University, representatives of the University of Abuja showed interest in the creation of joint training programmes, professional development and retraining of specialists for the needs of the nuclear industry.

The University of Abuja also hosted a meeting with Dr Kafayat Adeyemi, Director of the Energy Centre, who showed interest in cooperation with the Moscow Power Engineering Institute and Tomsk Polytechnic University. The parties agreed to develop bilateral cooperation, in particular, joint educational programmes are already planned. As part of the visit to Nigeria, a face-to-face lecture was also held at the Admiralty University. The event was attended by more than 500 face-to-face participants and held in accordance with the requirements for preventing the spread of coronavirus infection. In addition, Delta State University, Marcudi University and Jos University took part in the lecture in the online format, which also showed interest in Russian engineering and nuclear education.

Russian nuclear education ambassadors from Nigeria also took part in the lectures online: Dauda Kazazabrang, a Master student at NRNU MEPhI engaged in the Materials Science programme; Abdulrahim Kamal Kayode, a student studying at the postgraduate level at NRNU MEPhI in the nuclear training direction. The students shared their experience of entering the leading technical university of the country and shared their insights about the student life. In general, the results of the events in Nigeria were positive, and it increased interest in the Russian engineering education in general.