Professor of Political Science and International Relations in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Jideofor Patrick Adibe has unraveled what Russia really wants from Africa by interrogating Russia’s renewed interest in Africa.
This formed the basis of the 46th Inaugural Lecture series of the University which was delivered by the erudite Professor on Wednesday 30th October 2024 at the Assembly Hall of the University.
Professor Adibe in his lecture traced the historical relations between Russia and African countries to the late 18th Century when the Russian empire sought support from the rulers of Morroco,Egypt, and Tunisia in its confrontation with the Ottoman Empire, following which diplomatic relations were established with Tunisia as early as 1869, followed by Morroco in 1897, Ethiopia in 1898 and later the Boer Republic of Transvaal.
He explained that Nigeria and the then Soviet Union established diplomatic relations on 2nd November 1960, barely a month after the country gained independence in 1960. During the country’s Civil War (1960-1970) Soviet military assistance to the country marked a watershed in the relations when its traditional allies Britain were hesitant in supplying it with weapons. This led to the deepening of the relations between the two countries, with several Russian products imported into the country and several lucrative contracts in diverse areas such as metallurgy, and Petroleum industries, geological prospecting, etc, also citing the Ajaokuta Steel Company projects as one of the major contracts secured by Russia in the 70’s.
Professor Adibe opined that Russia is courting Africa’s relationship because it wants to Project power on the global stage by amplifying its position in the United Nations and its agencies especially the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Economically, Russia’s focus in Africa centres on energy. Several of Russia’s investments in Africa are in the oil, gas and nuclear power sectors, taking into cognisance that over 620 million people in Africa don’t have electricity which is an opportunity for the country to provide Russia’s nuclear power industry with potential growth.
Other reasons why Russia is cosying up with Africa according to Professor Adibe include creating new streams of oil supply because Russia wants to use its mostly state-owned oil and gas companies to create new energy supplies streams, and also Arms exports and security where statistics show that between 2018 and 2022 Russia overtook China as the leading Arms supplier to Sub Saharan Africa countries, this is so because Russian Arms are attractive to African leaders, besides being relatively cheap, deals with Russia are not held up by human rights concerns.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor Abdullahi Sallau Modibbo while congratulating Professor Jideofor Adibe for earning his Professorial chair, charged other Professors to buckle up and present their Inaugural Lectures as the University has created the enabling environment for the Academic tradition to thrive.
The event featured goodwill messages from Former Minister of Education and former Ambassador to Germany, Professor Tunde Adeniran, the President, Institute of Governance and Social Research, Jos, Emeritus Professor J Isawa Eliagwu, and Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago a former Commissioner of finance, Kano State and Professor of Accounting Bayero University, Kano amongst many others who showed up at the event.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of a plaque of honor to the Inaugural Lecturer by the Vice-Chancellor.
Information and Protocol Unit, 2024.