On Wednesday in Abuja, Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, announced plans to invest at least $2.8 billion into Nigeria’s healthcare, nutrition, and agriculture sectors to boost the economy.
Speaking at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Gates stressed the need to invest in Nigeria’s most valuable resource—its people—while addressing the nation’s economic challenges.
As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has been a strong advocate for Nigeria, contributing over $2.8 billion, making it the largest commitment to any African country.
Gates highlighted the significant challenges and opportunities Nigeria faces, particularly amid economic stagnation and rising national debt.
He emphasized the necessity of investing in primary healthcare, noting that Nigeria spends only N3,000 per person annually on this sector, which he believes needs to be increased.
He urged Nigerian leaders to boost funding for primary healthcare and ensure timely allocation of resources.
Gates also praised the recent HPV vaccination campaign that reached over 12 million Nigerian girls but called for continued improvement in data-driven decision-making for better healthcare delivery.
Addressing nutrition, Gates pointed out the high rate of child malnutrition in Nigeria, which leads to nearly half of all child deaths. He called for more private-sector involvement in food fortification and urged state governments to enforce nutritional regulations.
Gates also discussed affordable maternal health interventions, like multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS), which could prevent millions of anemia cases and save thousands of newborn lives.
In agriculture, Gates expressed concern about Nigeria’s food insecurity, worsened by climate change and poor practices.
He advocated for more funding for extension services, fertilizers, and infrastructure, as well as the adoption of innovative crop varieties with higher yields and pest resistance, such as new cassava varieties developed with Gates Foundation support.
Gates reaffirmed the Foundation’s long-term commitment to Nigeria and Africa, expressing optimism that with smart investments and dedicated leadership, Nigeria can achieve a better future.
He concluded by urging Nigerian leaders to prioritize their people to build a better future and expressed his belief in the country’s potential.
