Russian varsity empowers over 1,500 African professionals with new skills

The Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, through its Centre for Continuing Professional Education, Faculty of Philology, has completed a transformative six-month professional training programme across Nigeria and Ghana.

The programme which impacted over 1,500 participants, was held in two phases, from January to March 2024, focusing on key areas such as academic writing, research publication, and entrepreneurial journalism, among others.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to our correspondent on Sunday.

Led by the project leader, Dr. Muhammad Mustapha, alongside esteemed scholars from both the RUDN University and partner institutions, the programme spanned multiple cities including Kaduna, Kwara, Abuja, Rivers, Osun, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Accra.

In his remark, Mustapha said, “RUDN University remains deeply committed to empowering professionals in Africa with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in an evolving global landscape. These training sessions not only built individual capacities but contributed significantly to the development of both the media and academic sectors.”

The statement partly read, “The training kicked off in Ilorin, Kwara State, where participants were immersed in intensive sessions on academic writing and research publishing. Dr. Sauda Salah Abdul Baaqi from the University of Ilorin led workshops focused on writing for journals, while Dr. Rasaq Adisa provided in-depth instruction on data analysis and maintaining academic integrity.

“In Lagos, entrepreneurial journalism took centre stage at the University of Lagos. Dr. Natalia Ivanova of RUDN University guided participants through the intersection of journalism and business, highlighting the importance of branding in today’s media landscape.

“While the first phase which covered about 880 participants across Africa held from January to March of 2024, the second phase of the programme drew significant participation, with 120 attendees in Lagos, 110 in Kaduna, 100 in Zaria, 80 in Abuja, and 210 in Kwara. This overwhelming response demonstrates the strong demand for professional development in these critical fields.”

The institution noted that the educational centre would commence a six-month online Diploma programme in September 2024, in Policy Communication and Law Enforcement Communication, focusing on public relations, and media, among others.

According to the statement, RUDN University will collaborate with the Kwara State Government in training 50 representatives from local communities on Community Reporting for Community Development, thereby creating a template for community members to report directly to the government and key stakeholders, facilitating greater community engagement and development.