Education
Friendship University (RUDN): 65 Years Bridging Africa With Russia
By Sofia Glavina
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, founded on February 5, 1960, has become one of the key educational and cultural bridges between Russia and Africa for six and a half decades. Since its founding, the university has fulfilled an important mission: providing high-quality education to young people from countries liberated from colonial rule.
In 1961, the university was named after Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba as a symbol of the struggle for independence and progress. In March 2023, the historical name was officially restored, emphasizing the continuity and fidelity to the university’s original mission.
Training: Contributing to Sustainable Development
RUDN has trained approximately 200,000 specialists from more than 160 countries, including many African states. The university’s alumni associations operate in many countries, forming a vibrant network of trust that opens the door to intergovernmental contracts, academic exchange, and joint projects. Many RUDN University graduates from Africa occupy key positions in their countries, becoming drivers of reform in central banks, finance ministries, export agencies, and technology parks.
Today, as African economies grow rapidly, RUDN University continues to play a strategic role in Africa’s development of a new generation of managers and economists. The university offers targeted educational pathways in public administration, foreign economic activity, and industry-specific economics, including courses in Russian and English, as well as internships. For companies from Russia and Africa, the university serves as a gateway to proven talent and local expertise. Through career festivals, B2B sessions, master classes, and meetings with RUDN University alumni, RUDN University helps entrepreneurs find partners and build teams for specific projects.
One shining example of RUDN University’s successful alumni is Roman Karlash, a graduate of the Department of International Economic Relations at the Faculty of Economics. Having begun his career in digital services, he is now the Director of International Business at Yandex, part of Yango, one of the fastest-growing projects in Africa.
Yango, a global ride-hailing and delivery technology platform, operates in more than a dozen African countries, providing millions of rides per week and creating new jobs. Under the leadership of Roman Karlash, the company has not only entered African markets but also learned to take into account the cultural and institutional characteristics of each country.
The Future: III International Scientific School for Young Scientists
From September 22 to October 2, 2025, the RUDN University Faculty of Economics will host the III International Scientific School for Young Scientists, “Russia–Zambia: Economic Opportunities and Prospects.” The school is dedicated to the following important dates:
– The 60th anniversary of Zambia’s independence.
– The 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Zambia (October 30, 2025).
The goal of the scientific school: students from the Republic of Zambia and the Russian Federation will gain practical knowledge and skills in organizing and conducting foreign economic activity from leading experts, representatives of Russian and foreign companies, government agencies, and international organizations.
Participation in the scientific school will result in the preparation and defense of group projects on introducing Russian companies’ products to the Zambian market. Russian companies such as EkoNiva Group and Novy Vek Agrotekhnologiy CJSC will serve as project clients.
The projects are independent analytical studies of the Russian and Zambian markets, which will identify opportunities and prospects for increasing mutual trade between the countries. RUDN University remains a key educational and cultural bridge between Russia and Africa, training the next generation of leaders and strengthening economic ties between the continents.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 61.54 per cent of candidates obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr Amos Dangut, announced the results at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mr Dangut said 1,200,514 candidates met the benchmark for admission to higher institutions, out of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination nationwide, held between April 24 and June 19.
He said 102,708 examiners were engaged in the marking exercise held at 88 marking venues across the country between 2 July and 20 July.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that all the processes leading to the release of results have been completed. It is now my pleasure to announce the release of the results of candidates who sat the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 in Nigeria,” he said, directing candidates to the agency’s portal to access their results.
“UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at waec.org and check your results now on waecdirect.org,” the examination body said, noting that candidates must obtain their Serial Number and PIN before they can check their results.
To generate the required credentials, candidates are expected to visit WAEC’s official website and select the “Serial Number and PIN” option at the top of the page.
They are then required to select the appropriate examination year and diet, enter their examination number and National Identification Number (NIN), and ensure that the NIN provided is the same one used during registration for the examination.
Candidates must also provide their email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
After entering the OTP, candidates can recover their Serial Number and PIN, which they can subsequently use to check their results through WAEC Direct.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, were on July 23, 2026, engaged in practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha.
This engagement was made possible through a collaboration between Breathe Life Foundation and Teach Nigeria Fellow.
Participants were students aged 15–19 years. They were also informed about the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education.
By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
The organisation said it is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes, the Obajana Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has distributed some educational materials to some pupils in Kogi State.
The items shared to the beneficiaries included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, water bottles, and other essential learning aids aimed at enhancing the learning experience of the pupils and preparing them for the next academic session.
The General Manager for the Social Performance Department of Dangote Cement at Obajana Plant, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, said the materials were donated days after Dangote Cement distributed similar education materials to pupils in public schools in its catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata; and commissioned a multi-million-naira hospital in Obajana, which added to the growing list of social investments that includes an earlier hospital project in Iwaa and Oyo Communities.
He noted that, over the years, the company has invested billions of naira in a wide range of social programmes for host communities, including empowerment programmes, road construction, and potable water projects, and it remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining and expanding its interventions.
He noted that the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes are aligned with government development priorities and are implemented through sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships.
“The intervention was informed by findings from a needs assessment conducted by Dangote Cement. During the assessment, it was observed that several pupils attended school without school bags, while others carried their books by hand. It was also discovered that many students lacked essential learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, and other basic learning materials,” the cement firm said.
The Head Teacher of UBE LGEA School, St. Luke Model II, Adankolo, Lokoja Local Government Area, Mr Abubakar Sanni, expressed profound appreciation to the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture.
The Head Teacher expressed gratitude to the Group President of the conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, for extending the company’s educational support programme beyond its host and impacted communities to schools located at the state headquarters.
The beneficiaries, school management, parents, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for the timely intervention and prayed for the continued growth and success of the company in its efforts to improve lives and support sustainable community development.
