Bill Gates says Nigerian leaders failed on problems discussed years back

Nigerians receive some of the least healthcare spending in sub-Saharan Africa, the billionaire owner of Microsoft Bill Gates has said.

Mr Gates said the country remains dogged by the same developmental problems he discussed with its leaders about five years ago – saying more investments need to be made for a turnaround, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

“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,” he said Wednesday in Lagos at an event where he spoke to Nigerians.

“Leaders need to make a much bigger financial commitment, focused most of all on improving primary health systems.

“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 said.

– Big figures

The Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, the charity Mr Gate owns with his former wife, spends millions of dollars yearly to support healthcare and education in Nigeria.

In 2022, the foundation pledged $7 billion to Nigeria and other African countries over the next four years to tackle hunger, disease, poverty and gender inequality.

Mr Gate met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday.

“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,” he said.

“However, Nigerians are still facing many of the challenges I talked about five years ago—and you have to contend with economic instability and security threats.”

– Learn more

Mr Gates said Nigeria holds great talents who can fix its problems the nation’s health, education and security problems. He said he decided to address the citizens this time as past engagements with the leaders failed to yield results.

“I have a lot of faith that your generation will persevere and improve lives throughout Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

He said there are many exciting innovations that would improve lives here in Nigeria.

“They’re going to prevent infectious diseases, provide life-saving interventions for mothers and babies; make food more nutritious, and give women more convenient contraception options.

“Down the road, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be applied in ways that will bring quality health care and education to more people,” he said.