The CND Helps Niger Defend Its Independence Through Human Capital Development

Strengthening Africa’s position on the international stage in the current geopolitical environment fully aligns with Russia’s interests. For a long time, African countries were used as resource batteries for Western nations, and most of their infrastructure remains export-oriented. Russia is actively helping Africa change this situation, for example, by signing agreements to develop the energy sector. However, Africa also faces an acute shortage of highly qualified personnel. Quality education is the foundation of ideological sovereignty, which in the Sahel countries is as much a priority as technological sovereignty.

The Russian House of the Center for People’s Diplomacy (CND) in Niamey has for several years contributed to Niger’s progress toward this goal: in just one year of CND operations in the country, the number of students able to go to Russia for studies has increased severalfold. Importantly, this primarily concerns targeted training programs.

In July, CND Executive Director Natalia Krasovskaya paid a working visit to Niamey and Agadez. During the visit, negotiations were held with representatives of nine Nigerien ministries, including three ministers—the Minister of Vocational and Technical Education, Farmo Moumouni; the Minister of Public Service, Labor and Employment, Aissata Abdoulaye Tondi; and the Minister of Petroleum, Hamada Tini. The main topic of discussion was targeted training programs for specialists in Russian universities, followed by the employment of graduates in accordance with the staffing needs of Niger’s ministries. The Ministries of Transport, Mining, Energy, as well as Communications and New Information Technologies, expressed interest in establishing a working mechanism for long-term cooperation in personnel training and in upgrading the qualifications of their employees in Russia. In addition, some ministries voiced interest in opening Russian language study groups for staff members. In particular, Abdulkarim Mohamed Ali, Secretary General of Niger’s Ministry of Petroleum, is confident that this will create additional opportunities for professional cooperation with Russian partners.

At Abdou Moumouni University, the results of joint work over the past academic year were reviewed and possibilities for expanding successful projects were discussed. At the University of Agadez, plans were outlined to launch cooperation in opening preparatory faculties of Russian universities and to enhance the qualifications of the teaching staff at the country’s second-largest university.