Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, and a strong advocate of transparency in governance, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has hailed the initiative by Ukraine to combat global shortage of grain despite the country’s challenge of a raging war with Russia.
The former Vice President of the World Bank made the remark while responding to her appointment by Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, as ambassador of the Ukrainian government’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ programme.
She said that Ukraine’s bold step to tackle the grain crisis would not only help to address the lingering wheat shortage in Africa but the entire world.
Ikengaonline reports that Ukraine is the world’s largest producer of grain but the war between the country and Russia has adversely affected shipment of her grains, a development that has resulted to acute scarcity of wheat in many countries especially Africa.
The rising cost of bread and other confectioneries that are baked with flour is linked to the non-shipment of wheat from Ukraine since the outbreak of the war.
Ezekwesili expressed delight that the initiative by the Ukrainian President would help alleviate problems associated with the global challenge of wheat scarcity.
“We are talking about several millions of people around the world, who will receive this support. These people will suffer if they don’t have food on their table,” she said, adding that 62 million people in Africa suffer from food insecurity for one reason or another.
“This initiative should, therefore, support the continent’s longer-term policy measures for increasing investment and raising agricultural productivity. That is why we and the world really consider Ukraine as a country that, despite the war, is doing such important things to help ensure food security,” Ezekwesili said.
Other two African ambassadors of the initiative appointed by Zelensky are former President of Malawi, Joyce Banda; and Regional Director for Central and West Africa Programmes at the National Democratic Institute, United States of America, Christopher Fomunyoh.
Banda is a committee member of the African Women Leaders Network, Board member of Tana Forum for Peace and Security in Africa, as well as Club de Madrid, the global organisation of former Heads of State and Government.
Ikengaonline reports that ‘Grain from Ukraine’ is an initiative of the Ukrainian Government to help countries suffering from acute food crises as a result of the war with Russia.
The initiative which is receiving global support is expected to cushion the effects of wheat scarcity that has hit many countries of the world especially Africa.
On the job description of the Ambassadors, in addition to interacting with other experts, globally, they would engage international donor partners in the implementation of the initiative.
They would also improve the mechanism for receiving funds from partners, food shipment and visits of Ukrainian delegations to Africa.
Head, Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, had, in a virtual meeting, announced Ezekwesili and the two other African Ambassadors were joining international experts and leaders to drive the initiative.
He further disclosed that since the launch of the initiative in November 2022, more than 30 donor countries had signed up.
According to him, the participating countries include Qatar, Turkey, Japan, Norway, Korea, Canada and the USA.
He disclosed that so far, the participants had pledged nearly $200 million.
“We see the prospect of expanding the project. To do this, we need reliable partners with knowledge and extensive connections,” said Mr Yerimak.
Ezekwesili who has remained a strong voice against corruption and bad governance in Nigeria, is the Senior Advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative; Founder of School of Politics, Policy and Governance and President of Human Capital Africa.
