By Lawal Sale
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Abuja has held a reception on Tuesday to commemorate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Nigeria.
The event brought together officials from top government officials, members of Parliament, representatives of the business community, cultural figures and media representatives.
In his address, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Podelyshev, reflected on the origins of bilateral ties, noting that Moscow had always viewed Nigeria as a fully sovereign and equal partner.
He recalled the Soviet Union’s support for the Nigerian Federal Government during periods of internal instability, emphasising that such assistance “never had hidden motives” and did not involve imposing political conditions. “We stood with Nigeria as a reliable and respectful partner,” he said.
The Ambassador highlighted the broad scope of cooperation that has developed over the decades, citing agreements and joint initiatives in energy, geology, education, science, agriculture and culture.
He noted that universities from both countries have collaborated in training specialists, with tens of thousands of Nigerian professionals having studied in the Soviet Union and today’s Russia.
During the reception, the guests got acquainted with the exhibition of archival photographs and documents reflecting the key stages of bilateral cooperation from 1960 to the present.
Present at the occasion were the permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service Bashir Wale Adeniyi, representive of the Speaker House of Representatives, among other dignitaries. (GSF)
