Tayo Busayo, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, today announced a significant funding commitment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Nigeria's flood relief efforts and agricultural reforms. This was disclosed following a high-level meeting between the Nigerian delegation and the Gates Foundation on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During the meeting, which was led by Dr. Christopher Elias, head of the Gates Foundation's Global Development Programme, a $600,000 relief fund was pledged for victims of the recent devastating floods in Borno State and other affected regions. Additionally, the Foundation has committed to funding critical health sector initiatives, underscoring its longstanding partnership with Nigeria.
In a further show of support for Nigeria's agricultural sector, the Gates Foundation approved a $5 million grant for Lagos Business School and its partners to strengthen the agricultural economics of industrial cassava. This funding will drive innovation in the cassava value chain, improving economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and boosting Nigeria’s agricultural output.
In his remarks, Vice President Shettima expressed deep appreciation for the Gates Foundation’s continued support, reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration’s focus on health, nutrition, and agricultural development as key pillars of Nigeria’s national agenda.
"This partnership will not only provide immediate relief to our citizens impacted by the floods but will also support long-term reforms in health and agriculture, areas that are critical to our nation’s prosperity," Shettima stated.
He also emphasized the importance of sustaining such collaborations to ensure that Nigeria remains resilient in the face of natural disasters and global challenges, and continues to advance its economic development goals, particularly in rural areas.
The relief funds come at a crucial time as Nigeria grapples with the aftermath of severe flooding, which has displaced thousands and caused widespread damage across several states. The agricultural grant also aligns with the government’s push for diversification, with cassava being one of Nigeria’s key export crops.
This latest commitment from the Gates Foundation further solidifies its role as a strategic partner in Nigeria’s development journey, especially in supporting initiatives that address critical health challenges, food security, and economic sustainability.
The Vice President's meeting with the Gates Foundation is part of a broader set of engagements at the UN General Assembly aimed at attracting global partnerships and investments to bolster Nigeria’s development agenda.
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