During his visit to the Presidential Villa on Monday, Bill Gates, the Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), shared the details of his conversation with President Bola Tinubu.
Accompanied by Aliko Dangote, President of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Gates emphasized the importance of addressing equity challenges while allocating resources.
Speaking at an event titled "Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation," co-hosted by the Lagos Business School and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), in collaboration with Africa.com and Channels Television, Gates stressed the need to prioritize access to essential building blocks, particularly in the healthcare sector, where budget limitations exist. He highlighted the significance of a robust primary healthcare system and the importance of securing vaccines.
Gates expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with local partners and acknowledged the foundation's past efforts in malaria and polio eradication. However, he also expressed concern over substantial disparities in health and education across the country. With Nigeria being home to one of the world's largest young populations, Gates emphasized the potential of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for designing malaria drugs.
The philanthropist noted that Nigeria's healthcare spending amounted to less than $10 per capita, underscoring the necessity of improving the country's health systems to unlock its full potential. Gates pledged to discuss this matter with leaders throughout the country. He emphasized the message conveyed to President Tinubu and the intention to share it with other leaders, stressing the need to invest in equitable solutions and support the individuals working on them.
Gates called for greater financial commitments from Nigeria's leaders, particularly in strengthening primary health systems, ensuring well-staffed and supplied clinics, and providing essential vaccines to children. These initiatives, he emphasized, were crucial in enhancing health, expanding opportunities, and unlocking Nigeria's full potential. Gates also expressed his intention to discuss increased commitments to agriculture and digital financial systems with the Nigerian government.
Recognizing the passion demonstrated by Nigerian youth for progress, Gates encouraged citizens to urge their leaders to fulfill these commitments and drive positive change in the country.
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