By John Okeke
The Embassy of Russian Federation in Abuja has inaugurated a non governmental organization called ‘ISTOCHNIK INITIATIVE’.
The NGO which was founded by Mrs. Olga Igbo , a Russian citizen who is married to a Nigerian, seeks to provide assistance to Russian compatriots and the Russian-speaking community at large in terms of social, financial, legal and logistics support as well as assistance in the process of integration of new Russian arrivals into the Nigerian society.
Speaking at the official inauguration of the NGO,the Minister-Counsellor, of the Russian Embassy in Abuja ,Mr Vasiliy Zolotuhin said the embassy hands is wide open to give the necessary assistance to the NGO.
Zolotuhin said , “Mrs Olga Igbo started an NGO, called “Istochnik Initiative” early last year. Within the time, the organization gained momentum by opening a venue for its onsite events, teaming up the Russian speaking community and introducing good habits of regular gatherings on national occasions.
“Today we celebrate the official inauguration of “Istochnik Initiative” as the second organization of Russian compatriots in Nigeria, the first being ‘Russian House’ in Lagos. I cannot help but mark the good choice of title for this NGO.
“from the Embassy’s end we are already doing the necessary to help ‘Istochnik Initiative’ integrate into the system of Russian governmental programs for Russian compatriots abroad, help establish contacts with academic and cultural entities in Russia and empower its initiatives with diplomatic support where necessary,” he said.
Zolotuhin explained that the word “Istochnik” in Russian means ‘source’ or ‘spring’, just like the NGO promises to become a spring of new fresh trends in life of the Russian Community in Abuja and Nigeria in general.
He also said the ‘Initiative’ stands for the fact that it is an example of purely grassroots civil society movement, headed by a devoted Russian compatriot.
In her speech, the founder of Istochnik Initiative, Mrs. Olga Igbo said the NGO was registered with the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission on 28 January 2020 to encourage interest in the Russian language and culture amongst Russian compatriots, Nigerians of Russian heritage as well as the Russian-speaking community in Nigeria.
She said ,”in addition, ISTOCHNIK INITIATIVE aims to popularization Russian education in Nigeria and promote Russian universities in Nigeria. Furthermore, the NGO is expected to make use of the vast potential of Russian compatriots and Russian trained graduates to promote and foster Russian-Nigerian economic, social and business activities.”
Also speaking, the Assistant General Secretary of ‘Soyuznik’ Alumni Assosiation, Dr.Felix Odiah welcomes the initiative.
He explained his attitude to the long awaited appearance of a Russian cultural center in Nigeria.
He also pleads commitment on part of the alumni society while calling for support and promotion of Istochnik Initiative.
The ISTOCHNIK INITIATIVE is the brainchild of Mrs Olga Ivanovna Igbo, a renown Russian Language/Literature specialist in Nigeria and Russia based on her immense teaching experience as a Russian Language lecturer in the University of Ibadan and a senior lecturer at V.I. Surikov Moscow State Academy Art Institute.
This passion for the propagation of Russian language and literature had been evident since her lecturing days at the University of Ibadan when she organised Russian cultural activities and Russian language classes for the children of Russian women living in Ibadan.
Then, with the support of the Russian Embassy in Lagos she established a Russian library that included Russian films and subscribed to Russian newspapers and journals for the benefit of the Russian-speaking community.
Accordingly, the Russian Embassy in Abuja had supported Mrs Olga IGBO in her initiative to establish the Istochnik Initiative NGO and actively supported the NGO in the organisation of several Russian cultural activities.
