The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has highlighted Nigeria's potential to significantly increase its agricultural production, which the foundation described as a transformative opportunity for the country.
Bill Gates, a philanthropist and co-chair of the Foundation, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, at NutriVision 2024, a pan-African dialogue to discuss innovative solutions to combat malnutrition in Africa.
Mr Gates said that with the right investments in agricultural productivity and healthcare, Nigeria could achieve food security and also become a net exporter of food, contributing to economic growth and improved public health.
He highlighted the immense potential Nigeria has to double its food production, which would be a game-changer for the nation.
He said such a change would alleviate the need to use scarce foreign exchange reserves to import food, particularly given current currency challenges.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates [PHOTO: Andreas Gebert / Anadolu Agency | Keine Weitergabe an Wiederverkäufer.]“Nigeria has the opportunity to double its food production, which would be quite transformative because it would mean that it would be a net exporter of food.
“Nigeria could generate revenue by exporting food, boosting the economy and improving the living conditions of people in rural and northern areas,” he said.
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The philanthropist stressed the importance of adopting a digital approach and using better seeds to generate what he called “agricultural miracles.”
She explained that improving agricultural productivity was crucial to address equity, empowering women and solving nutrition problems in Nigeria.
He called for a concerted effort to implement these solutions, which would not only improve food security but also contribute to broader social and economic development.
Mr. Gates also discussed the crucial role of healthcare in Nigeria's development, noting that the government must prioritize health as part of its broader strategy.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to increase government funding for health and education, supported by improved tax collection.
“Current tax collection in Nigeria is quite low. As citizens develop confidence in well-managed programs, they will support increased funding for essential services,” he said.
He stressed the importance of having efficient primary health care systems, where resources are allocated wisely and services are delivered effectively.
“Our foundation is involved with many of the examples that are showing the way in terms of ensuring that money is well spent.
“We have a very efficient primary health care system, the staff do a great job and the centres are where they should be. We do not have overcrowded centres or centres with little capacity,” he said.
He expressed optimism that these efforts would improve the credibility of health programs, encouraging citizens to prioritize and advocate for better financing of primary health care.
He highlighted the potential for Nigeria to learn from best practices around the world and adapt them to local contexts, thereby driving progress in both agriculture and healthcare.
He painted a hopeful picture of a future where Nigeria could feed itself and also nourish the world by making the right choices and placing people at the centre of these efforts.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the BMGF advocates that solutions to Africa's greatest challenges can come from within Africa.
In doing so, the foundation supports African partners whose bold ideas and creative approaches have the potential to save lives, improve health and help families across the continent.
Since its creation in 2000, the foundation has supported partnerships with African regional institutions, national governments and local communities in 49 countries.
Provides funding and scientific expertise to support your agenda for change.
These partnerships have driven the success of numerous initiatives in the areas of health, agriculture, equality and the fight against poverty.
The Foundation has committed more than $7 billion through 2026 to support African countries and institutions working to develop and implement innovative approaches to address hunger, disease, gender inequality and poverty.
Works with African governments, the private sector, non-profit organizations and civil society.
Efforts are geared toward improving health outcomes, boosting agricultural productivity, expanding access to digital financial services, and empowering women and other marginalized populations with greater economic opportunities.
(YAYA)