A global giant, the Gates Foundation, has pledged more support for Nigeria to boost the country’s human capital development efforts.
The commitment was made during a meeting between Vice President Shettima and a delegation from the Gates Foundation led by its CEO, Mark Suzman.
VP Shettima thanked the Foundation for its support in healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion while calling for expanded investment in Nigeria.
“In the Gates Foundation, we have a partner that we trust and believe in. If all high-net-worth individuals made even half the investment Bill Gates has made, the world would be a better place. Kindly convey the highest regards of my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Mr Gates,” VP Shettima said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s growth ambitions, the vice president added: “Our target over the next few years is to achieve annual growth rates of no less than seven per cent, anchored on macroeconomic stability, improved productivity, and strategic investment in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and education.”
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, also appealed for greater Gates Foundation support in education, especially in the areas of technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
“What I want to put on the table to the Gates Foundation is increased investment in education. I have met with your representatives in Africa, and they indicated that the initial focus over the years had been on child nutrition but not education. Now I think there is more focus on education, so I am seeking enhanced support in that area to bolster our foundational education. We don’t have adequate support at all,” the minister said.
More Support
Responding, CEO Suzman pledged enhanced investment in human capital development, education, and health, noting the foundation’s significant progress in digital identity and digital financial inclusion in Nigeria.
He commended the strong commitment of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, stating, “Nigeria is really one of our strongest partnerships on the African continent, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you about where and how we might be more helpful while assuring you of our continued support.
“We just signed new grants with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to support related initiatives, and we are very encouraged by your broader efforts,” Suzman added.