St. Petersburg:Sierra Leone and Russia have reinforced their commitment to enhancing educational cooperation, focusing on areas such as scholarships, Russian-language training, technical and vocational education, scientific research, and institutional partnerships. This development took place during the Second Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue held in St. Petersburg from October 12-17, 2026.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Deputy Minister of Technical Higher Education Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara engaged in bilateral discussions with Russian Deputy Minister Konstantin Mogilevsky at Saint Petersburg Mining University Empress Catherine II. The talks aimed to explore opportunities for expanding educational exchanges and strengthening existing partnerships.
Mogilevsky highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding signed three years ago in Moscow and announced that six Sierra Leonean students have secured fully funded scholarships through Russia's Open Doors Scholarship Programme for the current academic year. He noted the presence of 151 Sierra Leonean students at Russian universities across various disciplines and expressed Russia's willingness to increase scholarship opportunities.
Aziz-Kamara conveyed greetings from President Julius Maada Bio and Technical Higher Education Minister Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, emphasizing education as a cornerstone of Sierra Leone-Russia relations. He acknowledged the historical educational cooperation between Africa and the former Soviet Union since the 1960s, which has produced numerous professionals.
He further stressed the importance of education in Sierra Leone's development agenda under President Bio's Free Quality Education initiative, aiming for middle-income status by 2039. Aziz-Kamara revealed that approximately 200 Sierra Leonean students are studying in Russia, with 25 graduates this year, including 12 medical doctors.
The talks also included discussions on language training, technical and vocational education, scientific research, and digital technology. Aziz-Kamara mentioned plans to establish permanent Russian-language training centers in Sierra Leone to prepare students for academic opportunities in Russia and promote cultural exchange.
Sierra Leone's Ambassador to Russia, Mohamed Yongawo, welcomed Russia's decision to reopen its embassy in Sierra Leone, emphasizing the robust bilateral relationship. He reported that Russian-language studies have commenced in Sierra Leone, with Eastern Technical University and the Centre for Public Diplomacy establishing a Russian Language Cultural Centre at the Kenema campus.
Yongawo urged collaboration between Russian authorities, the Sierra Leonean embassy, and the Ministry of Technical Higher Education to strengthen the selection process for the Open Doors Scholarship Programme. Former Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba also called for more postgraduate education and specialist training opportunities for Sierra Leoneans in Russia.
The Sierra Leonean delegation included Presidential Adviser and former Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba, Ambassador Mohamed Yongawo, Eastern Technical University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lawrence Sao Babawo, and Fourah Bay College lecturer Dr. Solomon Augustine Tucker.