Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is visiting Nigeria this week as part of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to advancing development across Africa. During his visit, Gates will meet with national and local leaders, partners, grantees, and innovators to discuss strategies for improving health, innovation, and nutrition across the continent.
Gates, along with other key leaders from the foundation, will engage with experts in primary healthcare, agriculture, and nutrition who are making strides in these fields despite the economic challenges facing the region. The foundation released a statement on Monday highlighting that Gates will also participate in a pan-African virtual dialogue focused on addressing malnutrition through integrated solutions in health, agriculture, and financing. He will be joined in this dialogue by musician, educator, and humanitarian Jon Batiste.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation emphasizes that solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges can emerge from within the continent. To this end, the foundation supports African partners with bold ideas and innovative approaches that have the potential to save lives, improve health outcomes, and support families across the continent.
Since its inception in 2000, the foundation has established partnerships with African regional institutions, national governments, and local communities in 49 countries across Africa. These partnerships have provided funding and scientific expertise to support various initiatives in health, agriculture, gender equality, and poverty alleviation. The foundation has committed more than $7 billion through 2026 to support African countries and institutions in developing and implementing innovative approaches to combat hunger, disease, gender inequality, and poverty.
The foundation collaborates with African governments, the private sector, non-profit organizations, and civil society to improve health outcomes, enhance agricultural productivity, expand access to digital financial services, and empower women and marginalized populations with greater economic opportunities.
Globally, the foundation is dedicated to helping all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, the foundation focuses on improving health and enabling people to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it works to ensure that all people—especially those with limited resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in education and life.
