"Go ahead and pinch me" - Russian President tells Nigerian student (see why)

Russian president, Vladimir Putin, had a bantery conversation with a Nigerian student who couldn't believe being in his presence.

President Putin may have proved himself to be one of the world's 'coolest' presidents with the singular and otherwise random act he pulled while with some young students in Russia recently.

On October 19th, 2017 ,the students had gathered in Sochi, for the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students, when the president made a surprise appearance at the Olympic Park in the Russian Black Sea resort.

A Nigerian student identified as Edostrey, couldn't believe that he was standing in the same space with a president, and Putin did the coolest thing ever - he asked that Edostrey pinched him to end his disbelief.

"Go ahead and pinch me." Putin said and then went ahead to pinch him, eliciting laughter from the students.

When another student asked the 65-year-old president what he remembers about his youth, he said:

“My youth passed a long time ago, I forgot everything, of course, there are – it's mostly sports events. They are my most vivid memories.”

Irrespective of the fact that Putin turned down their offer to join them in the festival because he had other things scheduled, he listened to another student mention their reason for gathering; to create “ideas for a better world”.

The student said "We talk about understanding each other better and how to deal with power, how to make each other accountable", which left Putin jokingly adding "power should be cared for, right?"

The president who reminded them that "We’re doing this for you", later received gifts from students representing countries like Tanzania, Mozambique, Serbia etc.