(3 Minutes Read)
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a leading global philanthropist, has once again drawn attention to the urgent need for increased investment in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, describing the country’s current health budget as critically inadequate. His comments reflect a broader call for African nations to take greater ownership of their healthcare systems—an issue he has consistently prioritised through the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation across the continent.
Speaking during a media briefing with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, Gates emphasised that while international partners can provide vital support, sustainable progress in health must come from within. “When you examine the figures, it becomes clear that Nigeria allocates a very minimal amount to healthcare,” Gates said. “This isn’t just about percentages—it’s about the absolute scale of investment. The system cannot be expected to function effectively without robust domestic funding.”
Gates, whose foundation has recently committed USD 200 billion toward improving healthcare across Africa, particularly in areas like maternal and child health, vaccine access, and disease prevention, underscored that Nigeria’s challenges mirror a broader continental pattern. However, he noted that Nigeria’s size, economy, and strategic importance make its leadership in health sector reform particularly crucial.
While acknowledging some positive examples at the subnational level—such as increased health spending in Lagos and Kano—Gates cautioned that these isolated improvements fall short of what is required at the national scale. “Yes, in states like Kano and Lagos, you’re seeing some encouraging developments. But for a country of over 200 million people, the current level of health financing is nowhere near enough to ensure universal health coverage or equitable access to essential services,” he said.
Gates’ remarks came shortly after receiving a national honour from President Bola Tinubu in recognition of his decades-long contributions to health and development in Nigeria. Seizing the moment, Gates reiterated that while foreign aid can help catalyse progress, true sustainability must be driven by national leadership. “As partners, we can offer support—but we cannot replace the foundational responsibility of the government,” he said. “Long-term dependence on external aid is neither viable nor strategic. Resilience comes from within.”
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With Nigeria’s health system strained by underfunding, outdated infrastructure, and limited access to care, Gates’ call aligns with his foundation’s wider commitment to helping African nations build stronger, more self-reliant healthcare systems. He urged Nigerian policymakers to prioritise health not just in rhetoric, but in budgetary action, emphasising that the lives and futures of millions depend on it.
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