Ernani Prazeres is a graduate of the Institute of Economics and Management at Belgorod State National Research University (BelSU). He came to Russia to pursue his education from Luanda, the capital of Angola.
In 2013, Ernani successfully graduated from the university with a Master’s degree. His studies were funded through a state scholarship programme.
According to Ernani, he was initially apprehensive about coming to Russia, as he had very little knowledge of the Russian language and Russian culture. However, with the support of his professors and friends, he was able to adapt quickly.
“I read a lot about Russia and was fascinated by its history. When I arrived in Belgorod, my lack of knowledge of the language was a major concern. However, within just eight months, I was able to speak Russian quite well. The teachers at the preparatory faculty and my Russian friends helped me immensely. I am still in touch with some of them through social media,” Ernani recalls.
During his studies, he took an active part in university life, participated in activities organized by the African students’ association and his student residence, and served as the student representative for African students.
Today, Ernani Prazeres works as a Senior Officer in the Market Research and Competitive Behaviour Department of the Ministry of Finance of Angola and is also engaged in entrepreneurial activities.