Today, June 4, a ceremony was held at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University) to confer the regalia of Honorary Doctor of RUDN University upon the President of Tanzania – Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan

"My visit is of historic significance, both for me personally and for my entire country, because more than half a century has passed since a state visit was made to Russia. That is why I came to Russia today to discuss bilateral cooperation and the sustainable development of our peoples," said the President of Tanzania.

RUDN University has always paid great attention to cooperation with African countries, as this region is one of Russia's strategic priorities – African states are key partners on the international stage.

"Cooperation between Russia and African countries in education and science has been dynamically gaining momentum in recent years: the number of African students in Russian universities is growing, Russian language education centers are developing in African countries, and active joint research is underway. RUDN University makes a special contribution to this work. This was highlighted during the last Russia–Africa Summit when the name of Patrice Lumumba was returned to RUDN as a mark of its special connection with the African continent," said Vladimir Mikhailovich Filippov, President of RUDN University.

Currently, more than 2,600 students from 52 African countries study at the university. On the African continent, Tanzania ranks second in the number of alumni from our university – 1,132 people, all of whom are highly qualified specialists.

More than 60 cooperation agreements are currently in place between Russian and Tanzanian universities. Tanzanian universities are members of the Russian African Network University Consortium and thus actively participate in additional education programs across various fields of study.

Today, at RUDN University, the Russian and Tanzanian delegations signed new agreements to further develop sustainable relations in higher education and science.

The honorary guests included: Adolf Mkenda (Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the United Republic of Tanzania), Mahmoud Thabit Kombo (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania), Makame Mnyaa Mbarawa (Minister of Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania), Khalid Salum Mohamed (Minister of Infrastructure and Communications of Zanzibar), Konstantin Mogilevsky (Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation), Vadim Titov (Head of the Directorate for Strategic Partnership and Cooperation of the President of the Russian Federation), Andrei Avetisyan (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United Republic of Tanzania), Fredrick Ibrahim Kibuta (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Republic of Tanzania to Russia), Igor Bogdashev (Director of the State Protocol Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Preksedis Marco Ndomba (Rector of the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology).

We wholeheartedly congratulate Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan on being awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of RUDN University and look forward to strong cooperation between Russia and Tanzania.