Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates, two of the world’s billionaires and leading investors, are collaborating to improve healthcare in Nigeria. This was announced during the American billionaire’s recent visit to Nigeria.
On Monday, June 19, important business executives met with Nigeria’s newly elected President in a closed-door meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Gates was part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation delegation that met with national and regional leaders in the West African country to promote the urgent need for investments and policies that will support and advance innovations and equitable opportunities to accelerate the continent’s development.
The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, praised the American billionaire for his dedication and courage in working for mankind, as well as Aliko Dangote for his new cooperation with the foundation. He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to changing Nigeria and offered to provide all support needed to ensure the success of the cooperation endeavor in Nigeria and Africa.
The President also praised Bill Gates for his work on climate change and the eradication of polio, measles, malaria, and other diseases in Africa, while reminding the philanthropist that the Western world needed to do more to help developing countries.
Although the details and programs of the partnership were not made public, Aliko Dangote stated after the meeting, in response to questions from State House Correspondents, that the visit was to brief the President on the programs of the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He also underlined the two Foundations’ willingness to work more closely with the Nigerian government to achieve the administration’s goals.
Part of the agenda for Bill Gates’s visit was to also participate in a youth program dubbed “Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation.” The developmental program, held in Lagos, offered the opportunity to discuss with students and young leaders to gather insights and share perspectives on how science and innovation can accelerate positive change and contribute to a brighter outlook for Africa.
Speaking at the Lagos event, Bill Gates urged Nigeria’s new leadership to emphasize healthcare services, adding that the issues he addressed five years ago when he visited the country – healthcare, security, and economic stability – remain important concerns. He also stated that talented and bright individuals exist in Nigeria, but it may be difficult for them to reach their full potential in the absence of the most basic essentials of life.
“The last time I visited Nigeria in 2018, I spoke to government leaders about your country’s potential for growth. This time, I wanted to speak also with you – Nigeria’s next generation of innovators.”
“It may not surprise you that Nigeria’s state and federal governments only spend the equivalent of $10 on health per person each year, compared to $31 in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Leaders need to make a much bigger financial commitment, focused most of all on improving primary health systems,” the billionaire remarked.
“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,” he added.
