President Bola Tinubu has made a firm commitment to prioritize the health and well-being of Nigerians, recognizing the crucial role it plays in a nation’s development, particularly in terms of its workforce.
These remarks were conveyed during a meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, where President Tinubu welcomed esteemed guests Mr. Bill Gates, the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
Expressing admiration for Bill Gates’ dedication and humanitarian efforts, President Tinubu also commended the partnership with the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
He pledged that his administration would diligently support their work in Nigeria and throughout Africa, with a specific focus on eradicating diseases such as polio, measles, malaria, and others from the continent.
Tinubu who caution about the challenges posed by budgetary limitations and other funding-related issues, however assures that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure the success of their initiatives in Nigeria.
He lauded Bill Gates’ remarkable endeavors in combatting climate change and his contributions towards the eradication of polio and malaria in Africa.
Recognizing Gates’ influential voice, President Tinubu emphasized the need for greater advocacy on behalf of developing nations, stating, “Your potential to assist developing countries is immense.”
In response, Aliko Dangote, while speaking to newsmen disclose that the purpose of their visit was to update the President on the ongoing initiatives of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Aliko Dangote Foundation, with a specific emphasis on improving the healthcare sector in Nigeria. Dangote expressed the foundations’ willingness to strengthen collaboration with the government in order to achieve their shared objectives.
Furthermore, Dangote took the opportunity to commend the President for the removal of fuel subsidies and expressed confidence that increased state funds would be allocated to critical areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other key sectors of the economy.