The appointees from Nigeria, Togo, Zambia, DR Congo, Guinea, Chad, and Gabon were selected after presenting research on bilateral cooperation in medicine, energy, food security, and media.

According to event organizers, the initiative aims to strengthen cultural and academic ties through public diplomacy. Selected ambassadors will promote Russian education in their home countries and share experiences gained during their studies. The congress, supported by Russia’s Public Diplomacy Foundation and Rossotrudnichestvo (Russia’s cultural exchange agency), drew over 150 participants including African diplomats, academics, and students.

Jury chair Vladimir Kochetkov (MSU Department of Global Social Processes) emphasized the ambassadors’ role in fostering “comprehensive cooperation with African nations.” Presentations highlighted practical collaboration areas, such as Nigerian medical student Iheoma-Hart Chimeremeze Hart’s analysis of healthcare partnerships.

The event featured the launch of AFREE (https://afree.ltd/), a social network targeting global African communities. RT France provided media coverage.