Obasanjo Urges Nigeria to Seek Zimbabwe’s Guidance in Tackling Soaring Inflation

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised the Federal Government to approach Zimbabwe for insights into addressing the country’s current record-high inflation. Speaking at a youth leadership symposium during his 87th birthday celebrations, Obasanjo highlighted Zimbabwe’s recent success in overcoming a similar economic challenge.

Nigeria is currently grappling with a staggering inflation rate of 29.9%, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics. The soaring cost of living has led to scattered protests across the nation, primarily in response to rising food prices.

The symposium, themed “Opportunities for Peace: Roles of the Youths in Conflict Prevention in Africa,” took place at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. Obasanjo emphasized the importance of facing challenges head-on and drawing lessons from those who have successfully tackled similar issues.

“We have this problem of galloping inflation in the country now, but do we have a country with such problems recently? Yes, we do. Zimbabwe had this problem recently. Shouldn’t we ask them how they did it, even if our approach will be different?” Obasanjo questioned.

He further advocated for dialogue as a means to resolve conflicts on the African continent, emphasizing that conscious efforts to instill a culture of peace and security among the youth are crucial. Obasanjo stressed the need to learn from historical experiences, citing the importance of youth involvement in promoting peace rather than resorting to violence.

The coordinator of the program, Prof Peter Okebukola, highlighted the symposium’s purpose as reinforcing Obasanjo’s commitment to African youth. Okebukola emphasized the significance of meaningful youth involvement and international collaboration to empower the younger generation for positive change.