Bill Gates: “Why Nigeria Receives More Funds From Our Foundation”

                Bill Gates: “Why Nigeria Receives More Funds From Our Foundation” 

Bill Gates, co-chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, explained why Nigeria receives the lion's share of the foundation's intervention funding in Africa.


Gates shared the insight in an interview with selected journalists at the Nutrivision Dialogue 2024, held in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said:-

“We spend a lot in Asia, but we spend even more in Africa. The country where we spend the most in Africa is Nigeria.

“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 stressed that reducing global health disparities and eradicating measles, malaria and polio are the foundation's top priorities.


He also noted that the foundation plans to increase spending in the future, with a focus on improving primary health care.


Apart from health, Gates said the foundation is also investing heavily in the agriculture sector, recognizing that increasing agricultural productivity is critical to Nigeria's economic development.


He stressed that this goal can be achieved by giving farmers access to high-yielding, climate-resilient seeds, fertilizers, improved and timely information and better weather forecasts.


These measures, he said, will significantly increase agricultural production and reduce food costs. The philanthropist also explained that the Foundation supports partners in implementing staple food fortification to improve the nutritional quality of food supplies and provide public health benefits.


He stressed that access to a variety of low-cost foods, especially milk and eggs, is key to reducing malnutrition.


Gates noted that now is the time to harness innovative ideas and tools in the health and agriculture sectors to significantly reduce malnutrition.


Since its founding in 2000, the Foundation has supported partnerships with regional institutions, national governments and communities in 49 African countries.