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Co-Chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Mr. Bill Gates, has revealed what he told President Bola Tinubu during his visit to the Presidential Villa on Monday, alongside President of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote.
Gates spoke at an event with the theme: Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation, co-hosted by the Lagos Business School and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), in partnership with Africa.com and Channels Television.
Gates said: “I had a chance to meet with the newly elected President (Tinubu) and to encourage him that as resources are being allocated, he needs to keep the challenges of equity in mind. We really do need to drive access to the key building blocks, for example, in the Health sector where there is a limited budget. You cannot run a good primary healthcare system. You can’t get vaccines.
“Our foundation is excited to be here and ready to work with incredible local partners. We’ve done a lot on malaria eradication, polio eradication.”
Gates regretted that there were dramatic gaps in health and education.
Gates said: “If you look across the country, mothers’ chances of surviving childbirth or chances of a child growing up healthy varies. Nigeria has one of the biggest young populations in the world. AI (artificial intelligence) will be used to design malaria drugs.”
The American philanthropist, who said the country was spending less than $10 per head on healthcare, stressed that improving the country’s health systems would help unlock Nigeria’s potential.
He promised to discuss the matter with other leaders across the country.
Gates said: “The message that I shared with President Tinubu on Monday and what I will share with other leaders tomorrow (Thursday) is that they must invest in equitable solutions and invest in the people who are working on them.
“Nigeria is full of talented people with a lot of potential. But it can be very hard to fulfil that potential if you don’t have access to the most basic building blocks of life.
“It may not surprise you that Nigeria’s state and federal governments only spend the equivalent of $10 per person on health each year, compared to $31 in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Leaders need to make a much bigger financial commitment, focus most of all on improving primary health systems, making sure clinics are well-staffed and supplied, making sure children get the vaccines they need. All of this is absolutely essential to improving health and opportunity and unlocking all of Nigeria’s potential.
“I will also be talking with Nigeria’s government leaders about increasing commitments to agriculture and digital financial systems.
“Young people in Nigeria have shown how passionate they are about progress. I know that you will encourage your leaders to follow through on these kinds of commitments.”
