Billionaire philanthropist and Chair of the Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates, has reaffirmed his long-term commitment to Africa.
Gates also announced that the majority of his $200 billion pledge will be invested in the continent over the next 20 years.
This is contained in a statement made available by to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday by the foundation.
Gates said that the funds would target key areas including primary healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) in health systems, and youth-led innovation.
Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, he addressed more than 12,000 stakeholders; including heads of state, development partners, scientists, health workers, and youth leaders.
He urged African governments to accelerate health and development through innovation and collaboration.
”I recently committed 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.
The billionaire philanthropist said that partnering with governments that prioritise citizens’ well-being would be key to achieving sustainable impact.
He lauded African countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Zambia for their bold leadership in transforming healthcare delivery, using data to cut child mortality, and leveraging innovation to fight infectious diseases.
As part of his visit, Gates is expected to be in Nigeria and Ethiopia, where he will meet with President Bola Tinubu and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
In Nigeria, he will attend the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, spotlighting local AI innovations and efforts to strengthen primary healthcare.
He highlighted the success of AI-enabled solutions to include ultrasound screening in Rwanda to detect high-risk pregnancies, describing it as a “glimpse into Africa’s promising healthcare future.”
He urged African nations to embed AI in the design of next-generation health systems, drawing comparisons to how mobile banking revolutionised the continent’s financial sector.
The event featured remarks by global leaders including Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, and Mrs Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General.
Both women praised African governments for demonstrating resilience and leadership in improving public health outcomes.
Renowned advocate for women and children, Mrs Graça Machel, called Gates’ continued investment a “beacon of hope” during a moment of global uncertainty.
”We are counting on Mr Gates’ steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us,” she said.(NAN)
