Esuabana Nko-Asanye, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, says Nigeria’s partnership with the Republic of Russia will strengthen the socioeconomic relations of both countries.

Ms Nko-Asanye said this when officials from the Russian Embassy, led by the senior counsellor on trade and economic section, Sergei Pliushchov, visited her in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said the bilateral relationship between the two countries in space technology, agriculture, science, engineering and mathematics needed strengthening.

She called for the two countries to collaborate to strengthen their bilateral relations.

She said that her ministry was interested in participating in Russian scientific and other research-related fields, especially in space technology in Russia.

She commended the Russian government for extending the training request to the ministry, noting that Russia is interested in developing Nigeria.

Mr Pliushchov said Russia was ready to collaborate with Nigeria. He said the collaboration would also facilitate the training and re-training of scientific experts for improved productivity in the country.

He added that through its Embassy in Nigeria, Russia engaged Russian online experts to develop Nigerians’ technical skills in various fields.

(NAN)