Ethiopia Ended Its Wheat Dependency in Just Three Years- Former President Obasanjo

Ethiopia Ended Its Wheat Dependency in Just Three Years- Former President Obasanjo
Though Africa faces numerous challenges, it must draw inspiration from Ethiopia’s success to usher in its renaissance, said former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.  

His remarks came during the annual meeting of the AfriExim Bank in Abuja, Nigeria, which was attended by former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and other current and former African leaders.  

When asked how Africa could achieve its renaissance, Obasanjo pointed to Ethiopia’s remarkable progress.  

He highlighted the severe wheat production crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, which hit Africa particularly hard. Despite these challenges—compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic—Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) unveiled an ambitious plan to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production.  

For a country historically plagued by severe droughts, the Prime Minister’s strategy proved transformative.  

“Initially, Ethiopia aimed to transition from a wheat importer to an exporter within five years,” Obasanjo noted. “Yet, they accomplished this goal in just three.”  

Today, Ethiopia exports wheat to neighboring nations—a success that Obasanjo hailed as a beacon of hope for Africa’s revival.  

“If Ethiopia can achieve such progress in wheat production, it proves that Africa is capable of far greater accomplishments,” he emphasized. “This is a clear sign that Africa’s renaissance is within reach.”