Bill Gate’s Blunt Facts to the Nigerian Government
Billionaire Bill Gates did not mince words when he met with the Nigerian political and business leaders recently: “it is more important to face facts so that you can make progress” he told the...
Billionaire Bill Gates did not mince words when he met with the Nigerian political and business leaders recently: “it is more important to face facts so that you can make progress” he told the select-audience that included President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
His grouse: “The current quality and quantity of investment in the young generation in health and education just isn’t good enough. So I was very direct.” He told the CNN in an exclusive interview after his visit.
Gates said he wanted to speak out to implore Nigerian politicians to focus on human capital and its large youth population. “The current quality and quantity of investment in this young generation in health and education just isn’t good enough. So I was very direct.” He told the CNN.
In his interaction with President Buhari, he had expressed his worries that Nigeria is still one of the most dangerous places to give birth and while the very young face chronic malnutrition. Lassa fever death rate in Nigeria higher than expected and a University of Washington modeling, commissioned by Gates, estimates that if investment isn’t increased in health and education, then the per-capita GDP, rising steadily for decades, may go flat.
Further explaining his mission through his Twitter handle, Bill Gates said “I was excited to visit Nigeria and meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Professor Osinbajo to discuss the country’s development goals. We agreed that Nigeria’s bright future will benefit from further investment in the country’s greatest resource: its people”.
He expressed gratitude to the Vice President, Prof Osinbajo “for his initiative in convening the National Economic Council on investment in people—and for the government’s openness and commitment to discussing how to build a Nigeria where all can thrive
Companies in Nigeria are taking a big step to end stunting and malnutrition. This commitment will build healthier and more prosperous communities.
But Gates believes, together with Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and a close partner of the Gates Foundation, that if the Nigerian government does a few things differently, then the country is poised for lift off.
