Ukrainian president appoints Obiageli Ezekwesili as Grain From Ukraine ambassador

PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has appointed Nigeria's former education minister Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili as the country's grain ambassador with a mandate to help prevent any food shortages.

An economic policy expert, advocate for transparency and good governance as well as human capital development, Dr Ezekwesili served as Nigeria's education minister between June 2006 and April 2007. She is a former vice president for the World Bank's Africa region, as well as being the co-founder and founding director of Transparency International.

In June 2005, Dr Ezekwesili was appointed as Nigeria's minister of solid minerals, in which capacity she led a reform programme aimed at boosting investment. She was also led the first national implementation of the global standards and principles of transparency in the oil, gas and mining sector.

As a senior economic advisor for Open Society, a group founded by George Soros, Dr Ezekwesili advises nine reform-committed African heads of state including Paul Kagame of Rwanda. Now, she has been given another task in an initiative of the Ukrainian government aimed at assisting countries suffering from severe food shortages relative to the war with Russia.

Andriy Yermak, President Zelensky's spokesman, disclosed that Ezekwesili and her colleagues are joining international experts and leaders to support the initiative. He pointed out that since the initiative’s launch in November 2022, more than 30 donor countries have signed up.

Mr Yermak said: “We see the prospect of expanding the project. To do this, we need reliable partners with knowledge and extensive connections."

Dr Ezekwesili added: “I am delighted to accept the invitation of President Zelensky to be one of three leading African experts recently named as Ambassadors of the Grain From Ukraine initiative. Glad to be joining Dr Joyce Banda and Chris Fomunyoh on this crucial programme to stem food insecurity.”