By Cross Udo, Abuja
United States billionaire philanthropist and Chairman of the Gates Foundation Bill Gates has announced a $2.8bn investment in improving the country’s healthcare, nutrition, and agricultural sectors.
Speaking yesterday at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Gates emphasised the critical need to invest in Nigeria’s most excellent resource, its people, while addressing the country’s economic challenges.
Gates, who met with the Vice President and the Chairman of the Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote, has long advocated for Nigeria. His foundation’s commitment to the country now totals over $2.8bn, the largest in Africa.
His remarks to the NEC highlighted Nigeria’s challenges and opportunities, especially given its economic stagnation and rising national debt.
He underlined the importance of prioritising primary healthcare, noting that “there can be no opportunity without health.”
He pointed out that despite Nigeria’s wealth, the country spends just N3,000 per person annually on primary healthcare.
He argued that this ratio should be reversed.
Gates urged Nigerian leaders to increase primary healthcare funding and ensure timely disbursement of allocated resources.
He also praised recent efforts, such as the successful HPV vaccination campaign that reached over 12 million Nigerian girls in just one month.
However, he stressed the need for continuous improvement, particularly in data-driven decision-making to optimise healthcare delivery and workforce management.
Addressing nutrition, Gates highlighted the alarming rate of child malnutrition in Nigeria, which contributes to nearly half of all child deaths.
He called for greater private-sector involvement in food fortification and urged state governments to ensure compliance with nutritional mandates.
Gates also discussed affordable interventions in maternal health, such as the use of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) that could prevent millions of cases of anaemia and save thousands of new-born lives.
Gates expressed concern over Nigeria’s food insecurity in the agricultural sector, exacerbated by climate change and poor farming practices.
He advocated increased funding for extension services, fertilizers, and infrastructure to support farmers.
He also encouraged the adoption of innovative crop varieties with higher yields and more excellent resistance to pests, such as the new cassava varieties developed with support from the Gates Foundation.
The philanthropist reaffirmed the Gates Foundation’s long-term commitment to Nigeria and Africa.
He acknowledged the difficulties in turning around the country’s fortunes. Still, he expressed optimism that Nigeria could build a better future with intelligent investments, innovative thinking, and dedicated leadership.
“By putting the Nigerian people first, Nigeria’s leaders can build a better future,” Gates said, adding: “I still believe in the grand vision of Nigeria’s future, and that future depends on all of you.”
