Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has urged African leaders to shift their focus from clinging to power to solving the continent’s food crisis through innovation and smart leadership.
Speaking at the inaugural CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, Kenya, Jonathan said that Africa can only win the battle against hunger if leaders show strong political will and invest in science, technology, and the right people.
“We need leaders who are ready to serve the people, not just stay in office,” Jonathan said. “Even if you are not an expert, you must appoint those who are—people who can deliver results.”
He pointed to his administration’s success in agriculture, largely driven by the appointment of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina—now President of the African Development Bank—as agriculture minister. He also praised the work of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, now Director-General of the World Trade Organization, who served as finance minister.
“They were not part of my campaign. In fact, they were not even in Nigeria during the elections. But I brought them in because I knew they would help the country,” he explained.
Jonathan stressed the need for African leaders to rely on research that reflects the real needs of their people. He warned that policies not backed by science or grounded in local realities often fail.
He also cautioned against constantly changing government policies, saying many successful programs take years to bear fruit and need consistency to succeed.
During a side event hosted by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Jonathan called for better collaboration between governments, researchers, and the private sector. He urged businesses to invest in agricultural research, not just benefit from it.
“Africa has the brains. What we need now is the political courage to put those brains to work,” he said.
