The Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has revealed why Nigeria receives the largest portion of the foundation’s intervention funds allocated to Africa.
According to the PUNCH, Gates highlighted the country’s significant needs and large population as key reasons for the focus during an interview with selected journalists on the sidelines of the 2024 NutriVision Dialogue in Abuja.
“We spend a lot in Asia but even more in Africa. The country where we spend the most in Africa is Nigeria,”
Gates said, “That makes sense because of the population and the incredible needs that are here. That means that I’ve literally spent billions in Nigeria. I’m glad that things like the child mortality rate have come down, but we could do a lot better.”
Gates emphasized the foundation’s commitment to reducing global health inequalities, with a strong focus on eradicating diseases like measles, malaria, and polio. He also indicated that the foundation plans to increase its spending, particularly in primary healthcare, which he identified as having the most significant impact per dollar spent.
“Our work is almost entirely focused on primary healthcare because the impact per dollar is dramatically greater than anywhere else,” Gates explained.
Beyond healthcare, Gates noted the foundation’s substantial investments in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He underscored the importance of enhancing agricultural productivity to support the country’s economic development. According to Gates, achieving this requires access to high-yield, climate-resistant seeds, fertilizers, timely information, and accurate weather predictions for farmers.
“These measures will significantly boost agricultural output and reduce food costs,” he said.
Gates also highlighted the foundation’s support for food fortification initiatives aimed at improving the nutritional quality of staple foods, which provides critical public health benefits. He stressed that access to a variety of low-cost foods, particularly milk and eggs, is essential for reducing malnutrition in Nigeria.
“The time is right to utilize innovative ideas and tools in the health and agricultural sectors to reduce malnutrition substantially,” Gates noted.
Since its inception in 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has partnered with African regional institutions, national governments, and local communities across 49 African countries to advance its mission of improving health and development outcomes.
