Lomonosov Moscow State University has significantly advanced its engagement with African nations by naming eleven African students as goodwill ambassadors for its esteemed Russia-Africa Club. This pivotal announcement followed a comprehensive congress held on June 29, 2025, an event specifically designed to foster stronger cultural and academic ties between Russia and Africa through robust public diplomacy initiatives.

The newly appointed ambassadors hail from a diverse range of African countries, including Nigeria, Togo, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Chad, and Gabon. Their selection was a rigorous process, contingent upon their presentation of detailed research focusing on various critical areas of bilateral cooperation. These areas encompassed vital sectors such as medicine, energy, food security, and media, underscoring the practical and strategic nature of the partnerships being cultivated.

Organizers of the congress emphasized that the core objective of this initiative is to enhance mutual understanding and collaboration. The chosen ambassadors are tasked with promoting Russian educational opportunities within their respective home countries, leveraging their personal experiences and insights gained during their studies in Russia. This direct engagement is expected to create a more relatable and accessible pathway for prospective African students considering Russian higher education.

The congress itself was a well-attended event, drawing over 150 participants from various spheres, including African diplomats, esteemed academics, and numerous students. The significant support from Russia’s Public Diplomacy Foundation and Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s key cultural exchange agency, highlighted the strategic importance placed on this program by official Russian bodies. Vladimir Kochetkov, who served as the jury chair and is a distinguished member of the MSU Department of Global Social Processes, underscored the profound role these ambassadors are expected to play in cultivating “comprehensive cooperation with African nations.”

Practical examples of the collaborative potential were prominently featured during the presentations. Notably, Iheoma-Hart Chimeremeze Hart, a Nigerian medical student, delivered an incisive analysis of potential healthcare partnerships, illustrating the concrete benefits of such academic and diplomatic exchanges. Complementing these discussions, the event also marked the official launch of AFREE (https://afree.ltd/), an innovative social network specifically designed to connect and serve global African communities, further enhancing digital diplomacy and community building. Media coverage for this significant event was provided by RT France, ensuring broader dissemination of its outcomes.