Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has explained why Nigeria receives the highest share of the foundation’s intervention funding in Africa.

Gates made the statement during a chat with select journalists on the sidelines of the 2024 NutriVision Dialogue on Tuesday in Abuja.

He stated, “We spend a lot in Asia, but we spend even more in Africa.” Nigeria is the African country in which we spend the most money.

“That makes sense given the population and the huge needs that exist here. That means I’ve spent literally billions in Nigeria.

“I’m glad that things like the child mortality rate have come down, but we could do a lot better.”

Gates underlined that the foundation’s primary priorities include reducing global health inequity and eradicating measles, malaria, and polio.

He also stated that the foundation intends to boost expenditure in the future, with an emphasis on improving primary healthcare.

“Our work is almost entirely focused on primary healthcare because the impact per dollar is dramatically greater than anywhere else,” he told me.

Beyond health, Gates stated that the foundation invests extensively in agriculture, realizing that increasing agricultural production is critical to Nigeria’s economic growth.

He emphasized that this aim could be met by providing farmers with access to high-yield, climate-resistant seeds, fertilizers, enhanced and timely information, and better weather forecasts.

According to him, these steps will greatly increase agricultural productivity while lowering food costs.

The billionaire also noted that the organization helps partners adopt food fortification for staple foods, which improves the nutritional content of the food supply and boosts public health.

He emphasized that having access to a variety of low-cost items, notably milk and eggs, is critical for eliminating malnutrition.

Gates emphasized that the moment has come to use innovative ideas and instruments in the health and agricultural sectors to significantly reduce malnutrition.

Since its creation in 2000, the foundation has sponsored relationships with African regional institutions, national governments, and local communities across 49 African countries.