Connect to the box hosing the mysql / mariadb via SSH or telnet then enter

mysql -u root

at the mysql> prompt enter

grant all privileges on *.* to 'root'@'remoteIP' with grant option;

and replace remoteIP with your workstation or % for everywhere (but don't use % please unless your on a LAN and nothing of any importace is in the database.

Then flush the changes with

flush privileges;

and your done.