On May 27, 2026, the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’
Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), with the support of Rosatom
State Corporation, hosted the 6th International Youth Forum “Russia–Africa:
Nuclear Education as a Catalyst for the Region’s Development.” The event was
held in a hybrid format, both in person and online.
The forum brought together more than 350 participants from 32 African countries, including Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Rwanda, Namibia, and others.
Key discussion topics included energy, medicine, environmental protection, agronomy, geology, and other applications of nuclear technologies. Presentations covered both energy and non-energy applications in areas such as nuclear medicine, geology and mining, radiation safety, environmental protection, and agricultural technologies.
“Africa is a priority region for Rosatom’s international cooperation. Today, more than 2,400 students from 65 countries are pursuing higher education in Russia in nuclear and related fields. Over 400 of them come from 24 African countries. Rosatom places particular emphasis on capacity building and the transfer of engineering education to partner countries’ universities to ensure their technological and workforce independence. More than 300 professionals have already graduated from Russian universities and are now working in the nuclear sector in Egypt, Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, and other countries. Cooperation is also developing with Tanzania, Namibia, and South Africa. Plans include opening branches of Russian universities in Egypt. Forums like this help identify new areas of collaboration and new formats of engagement between Russia and African countries,” said Vera Upirova, representative of Rosatom’s Project Office for Education Development and International Cooperation.
“Every fourth person on the planet is African. It is a
young and rapidly developing continent. Thanks to Rosatom and Russian
universities, Africans are advancing nuclear energy, nuclear medicine, and
environmental sustainability in our countries. This contributes to energy
independence. The students currently studying at Russian universities will be
the ones shaping the future. It is important to expand joint research, academic
exchange programs, and the transfer of Russian technologies. If education is a
passport to the future, then nuclear education is a gateway to prosperity,”
said Ghana’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Dr. Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah.
Rosatom continues to build long-term partnerships with African countries in education and international project development.
