In an interview with Sputnik Africa, Dr. Mactar Seck, Chief of Technology and Innovation Section at UNECA, highlighted the crucial role of digital technology in addressing Africa's development challenges.
"Digital technology is very important for African development," Dr. Seck said. "We are facing several challenges on the continent, and this collaboration provides an opportunity to support the African countries in several sectors and to take an opportunity of the African demographic dividend."
The partnership with HSE University, launched during the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi, Russia, will provide support and expertise to African countries in accelerating their digital transformation, which is a vital tool for sustainable development, the official noted.
"What we see now is a real focus of African countries to collaborate with Russia in the digital technology," he said.
He further underscored the impact of scholarships offered by the Russian government to African students in various fields, including medicine, ICT, and engineering.
"Currently, we have 62% of our population under 25 years," said Dr. Seck. "We need to educate its population, these people. We need to provide them with new skill in medicine, in agriculture, in technology, in energy. And this will impact, of course, the education system in Africa."
The first Russia-Africa ministerial conference was held on November 9 and 10 in Sochi, Russia. The event, attended by the heads of relevant agencies, aimed to strengthen comprehensive cooperation between Russia and African nations in politics, security, economy, scientific and technical fields, and cultural and humanitarian areas.