President Bola Tinubu has emphasized the importance of prioritizing the health and safety of Nigerians as a critical factor in the country’s development. He made this statement during a meeting with Bill Gates, the Co-founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Aliko Dangote, President of Aliko Dangote Foundation, at the State House in Abuja.
President Tinubu commended Bill Gates for his dedication to working for the betterment of humanity and expressed appreciation for the partnership with Aliko Dangote Foundation. He assured them that his administration would do everything necessary to ensure the success of their work in Nigeria and Africa, particularly in eradicating diseases such as polio, measles, and malaria from the continent.
However, President Tinubu also acknowledged the budgetary constraints and other funding challenges that the country faces. He praised Bill Gates’ efforts in addressing climate change and eradicating polio and malaria in Africa, and encouraged him to advocate more for the needs of developing countries.
Following the meeting, Aliko Dangote congratulated President Tinubu on his election and successful assumption of office. He described the visit as a courtesy call to brief the president on the activities of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation, particularly their commitment to improving Nigeria’s health sector. Dangote expressed their willingness to further cooperate with the government in achieving their goals.
Dangote also took the opportunity to commend the president for the removal of fuel subsidy, expressing confidence that more state funds would now be allocated to education, health, infrastructure, and other critical areas of the economy. He pledged his foundation’s support in helping President Tinubu realize his vision for the country.