The Nigerian government has secured a $600,000 relief fund from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate flood relief efforts and advance reforms in health and agriculture. This announcement followed a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and representatives of the Gates Foundation, led by Dr. Christopher Elias, President of the Global Development Programme, at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, the relief fund is aimed at mitigating the impact of devastating floods in Borno State while supporting broader health and agricultural reforms. An additional $5 million grant has been approved to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava through a partnership with Lagos Business School.
Vice President Shettima reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to addressing key national challenges, including malnutrition, food security, and industrial agricultural development. “We are deeply committed to addressing the pressing developmental challenges facing our nation, particularly the significant malnutrition crisis,” Shettima said, emphasizing the government’s urgency in securing maize production under the Telemaze program.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also pledged further support for Nigeria’s health sector, particularly in combating polio. Dr. Elias expressed the Foundation’s concern about the severe flooding in Borno and affirmed their commitment to helping Nigeria during crises. He praised the efforts of Nigeria’s national task force in working toward eliminating variant polioviruses by the end of the year.
Rodger Voorhies, President of the Foundation’s Global Growth & Opportunity Division, highlighted the potential of industrial cassava for Nigeria’s economy, describing it as a “multi-billion-dollar opportunity.” He also revealed plans for scaling up drought-tolerant maize production in Nigeria and requested import permits for 5,000 metric tons of certified maize seed to strengthen the country’s foundation seed system.
Uche Amaonwu, Director of the Gates Foundation’s Nigeria Country Office, expressed appreciation for the ongoing collaboration with Nigeria, noting a $60 million investment in sector-wide initiatives, including reproductive health.
The partnership between Nigeria and the Gates Foundation marks a significant boost to national development efforts, particularly in addressing food security, health sector reforms, and the ongoing flood crisis. The collaboration also underscores the Nigerian government’s focus on digital transformation and the strategic importance of agricultural innovation.
