Russia plans to establish 10 educational and skills training centres across Africa by the end of 2028 as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with African countries in education, technology, maritime development and industrial production.
The initiative was announced at the Russia-Africa Media Forum ahead of the Third Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 28-29, 2026.
The centres are expected to support African students through university selection, specialised training, visa processing and career development, while promoting partnerships between Russian institutions and African governments, colleges and businesses.
Vadim Lobov, President of Synergy Corporation, said the centres would provide comprehensive support to African students, with educational programmes coordinated through a digital platform developed in partnership with IVA Corporation.
The platform is intended to guide students from their initial contact with educational institutions through graduation and employment.
“Our task is to develop and cooperate on the African continent. Not short-term projects, but projects that are aimed at a long-term perspective,” Lobov said.
He added that Synergy was seeking partnerships with African colleges, businesses and ministries of education to expand the initiative.
Alongside the education programme, Russia is planning to expand cooperation with African countries in the blue economy, with a focus on maritime infrastructure, offshore resources, fisheries and aquaculture.
Nikolai Shabalin, Director-General of the Centre for Marine Research at Lomonosov Moscow State University, said Russia was offering technologies for offshore oil, gas and mineral exploration, port construction, underwater infrastructure, pipelines and shipping.
He said the proposed projects would seek to improve energy, raw material and food security while promoting the sustainable use of marine resources and protecting the environment.
“We plan to develop and localise technologies on the basis of technological hubs created by Innopraktika in the countries of presence,” Shabalin said.
He disclosed that negotiations were under way with governments in Seychelles, Tanzania and Zanzibar to establish technology hubs tailored to their economic priorities.
While Seychelles would focus on tourism and aquaculture, Zanzibar’s proposed cooperation would include offshore oil and gas development.
The blue economy initiative is intended to help African countries develop local capacity, attract technology and expand the economic benefits of their marine resources.
Russia is also seeking to deepen cultural and creative industry ties with African countries.
Russian artist Alina Sanko said art and culture could strengthen relationships between countries beyond conventional economic and political partnerships.
Sanko revealed that she had completed nine paintings depicting African leaders, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, for the summit. She also presented a painting to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at RUDN University in June.
In the fashion and manufacturing sector, Dmitry Shishkin, founder of SHISHKIN Group and Putin Team Brand, said Russia was interested in building mutually beneficial industrial partnerships with Africa rather than limiting relations to the supply of finished products.
He said his company was promoting digital garment manufacturing technologies designed to improve productivity, coordinate production and supply chains, and reduce manufacturing waste.
Shishkin added that Africa’s raw materials and labour force could support closer cooperation in the textile and clothing industries. The company is also developing adaptive fashion for people with disabilities and clothing inspired by African national symbols.
The projects presented at the forum are expected to form part of the broader Russia-Africa cooperation roadmap, with an emphasis on localising production, training skilled workers and strengthening cultural ties.
The proposed education centres and blue economy hubs form part of Russia’s wider effort to expand its economic, technological and humanitarian engagement with African countries through long-term partnerships.