In the midst of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has lasted almost a year, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken significant steps to lessen the impact of the conflict by appointing Nigeria’s former minister of education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, and two other African leaders as ambassadors for the Ukrainian government’s “Grain from Ukraine” program.
Former President of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda, and regional director for Central and West Africa Programs at the National Democratic Institute in the United States of America, Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, are the initiative’s other two ambassadors.
Nigeria’s Ezekwesili is the founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, the President of Human Capital Africa, and a senior advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative.
The one-time Presidential candidate has also served as the World Bank’s vice president in the past.
In addition to serving on the boards of the Tana Forum for Peace and Security in Africa and the Club de Madrid, an international association of former presidents of state and government, Banda is a committee member of the African Women Leaders Network.
The program, “Grain from Ukraine” was started by the Ukrainian government to help other nations that are experiencing severe food crisis as a result of their conflict with Russia.
One of the greatest grain producers in the world, Ukraine, sells roughly a third of the world’s wheat and barley alongside Russia.
The African ambassadors for “Grain from Ukraine” will collaborate with other experts from around the world and discuss the outcomes of including international donor partners in the initiative’s implementation, enhancing the system for receiving funds from partners, food shipment, and visits by Ukrainian delegations to Africa.
In a recent virtual meeting, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, revealed that the three Africans were joining other specialists and leaders from around the world to support the project.
He said that more than 30 donor nations have joined since the initiative’s start in November 2022. Qatar, Turkey, Japan, Norway, Korea, Canada, and the USA are among them.
Also, participants have committed close to $200 million so far.
“We see the prospect of expanding the project. To do this, we need reliable partners with knowledge and extensive connections”, said Yerimak.
He greeted and introduced the first group of African ambassadors for the initiative at the meeting last week: Ezekwesili, Banda, and Fomunyoh.
In her comments, Ezekwesili pointed out that Ukraine had taken aggressive and successful measures to address the global food issue, not only in Africa.
She said; “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.”
