Vice President Yemi Osinbajo warned that the ongoing Russia‑Ukraine crisis should serve as a wake‑up call for African states to prioritize self‑sufficiency in food production. Speaking to a large audience of academics, scholars, researchers, faculty and students at the Africa Leadership Centre, King’s College London, he said the war’s economic fallout underscores the need for Africa to look inward. “The economic fallout of the war for us in Africa should be an introspective moment on the issue of self‑sufficiency in food production,” Osinbajo told the crowd. He noted that the conflict has disrupted the global order established after World War II, leaving many African countries to navigate delicately between major powers.
The immediate consequences of the war have been sharp hikes in the prices of essential commodities such as wheat, sunflower oil, fuel and fertilizer. When the conflict began in February 2022, wheat prices rose 67 percent from December 2021, while oil prices surged to an average of $100 per barrel in 2022, up from about $70 the previous year. Higher oil costs have translated into higher prices for manufactured goods, especially in countries that import oil. These price shocks and supply‑chain disruptions have driven inflation at a time when many African nations are still grappling with the economic and social fallout of the COVID‑19 pandemic, including debt and foreign‑currency crises. Osinbajo said the situation was partially alleviated by a brokered deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian wheat.
Despite Nigeria’s firm objection to the invasion, the country has maintained good relations with both sides. “We are now working out a grain supply from Russia coordinated by the World Food Programme, and we have offered port space in Port Harcourt for the distribution of Ukrainian grain to other West African countries,” he explained. He observed that the war has prompted some African nations, such as Zimbabwe, to look inward and consider greater food self‑sufficiency.
Osinbajo praised Brazil President Luiz Lula da Silva’s recent peace proposal, which envisions a “peace club” possibly led by China to mediate the crisis. “The world must find parties that can be trusted by both sides to intervene,” he said.
Turning to Africa’s future, the vice president argued that digitalisation offers the continent its best chance to leap‑frog development. “Digital technologies are being deployed across Africa to provide solutions in agriculture, education, fintech and healthcare delivery,” he asserted. He highlighted applications in logistics, transport, smart housing and power grids, noting that mobile telephony has created a robust platform for digital services. Africa now accounts for about half of the world’s mobile‑money accounts, giving the continent a lead in fintech and payments solutions.
Osinbajo also cited the growing use of AI‑enabled surveillance for facial‑recognition to combat crime, and the innovative use of drones to deliver medicines in Rwanda. He pointed out that, despite two recessions and a global pandemic since 2016, six Nigerian technology start‑ups have achieved unicorn status, underscoring the sector’s rapid growth.
The lecture was attended by King’s College London’s Senior Vice President (Academics) Professor Rachel Mills, Vice President (International Engagement & Service) Professor Funmi Olonisakin, who moderated the subsequent Q&A, and Professor of African Studies Professor Abiodun Alao. Senior Nigerian officials, led by High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, accompanied the vice president.
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