The Chairman of Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has urged African leaders to utilise the foundation’s $200bn pledge to accelerate health and development progress through innovation and partnership, despite current challenges.
The Gates Foundation said in a statement that Gates, who is currently in Nigeria on a visit, pledged that the majority of his foundation’s $200bn expenditure over the next 20 years would be directed towards Africa, concentrating on collaborations with governments that prioritise the health and well-being of their citizens.
“I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” he said.
Speaking to over 12,000 government officials, diplomats, health workers, development partners, and youth leaders both in person and online, Gates emphasised the vital role of African leadership and creativity in shaping the continent’s health and economic future.
“By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity – and that path is an exciting thing to be part of,” he said.
The Microsoft founder stressed the need to prioritise primary healthcare, emphasising that “Investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing. With primary healthcare, what we have learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results. Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference.”
According to Gates, countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia are showing what is possible when bold leadership harnesses innovation.
“From expanding frontline health services and using data to cut child mortality to deploying advanced tools against malaria and HIV, and safeguarding primary healthcare despite fiscal strain—these country-led efforts are driving scalable, homegrown progress,” he added.
GIK/APA