Burkina Faso : Russia plans to increase scholarships for Burkinabe students
In Burkina Faso, Russia is considering increasing scholarships for Burkinabé students as part of enhanced cultural and educational cooperation. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office, Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélem de Tambela welcomed a Russian delegation led by Natalia Krasovskaïa, Head of Public Diplomacy of the Russian Federation, on January 12, 2024. Discussions focused on ways to strengthen collaboration in the fields of culture and education.
Cultural cooperation was at the heart of the discussions, with Natalia Krasovskaïa announcing a photographic exhibition titled « Window to Russia », starting on January 13, 2024, at the municipal library of Ouagadougou.
This initiative aims to showcase the diversity of Russian culture to the people of Burkina Faso through photographs illustrating landscapes, monuments, traditions, and Russian personalities. Regarding education, Russia expressed its intention to increase the number of scholarships offered to Burkinabé students.
Natalia Krasovskaïa, the Head of Russian Public Diplomacy, specified that this increase will cover all levels of study, from undergraduate to doctoral, and will include various fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She also highlighted that the Russian Cultural Center in Ouagadougou will organize online and in-person Russian language competitions, as well as offer free courses, film screenings, lectures, workshops, and cultural events to strengthen cultural ties between the two nations.
Natalia Krasovskaïa mentioned that Russia is also considering participating in the upcoming edition of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) with Russian film productions.
