FG Secures $600,000 Relief Fund From Gates Foundation

The Nigerian government has received a $600,000 relief fund and additional commitments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support flood relief efforts, as well as health and agricultural reforms.

This announcement was made during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Foundation’s Global Development Programme leader, Dr. Christopher Elias, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The relief fund is aimed at expediting assistance for victims of recent floods and advancing initiatives in Nigeria’s health and agricultural sectors. According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, this support is timely, as the Nigerian government recently established a Disaster Relief Fund to better address natural disasters, particularly those linked to climate change.

The Gates Foundation’s $600,000 contribution will primarily target flood relief in Borno State, alongside health initiatives. Additionally, a $5 million grant has been approved for Lagos Business School and its partners to further develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava, a sector with significant growth potential.

Vice President Shettima reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to prioritizing health, nutrition, and agricultural development under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership. He emphasized the urgency of addressing food security issues, particularly through initiatives like the cassava accelerator and the Telemaze programme, focused on maize production.

Shettima also highlighted the government’s commitment to digitization and data exchange systems, which are expected to modernize public services and enhance agricultural efficiency.

Dr. Elias expressed the Foundation’s concern over the devastating floods in Borno and reiterated its dedication to supporting Nigeria during crises. He also lauded the nation’s efforts to eliminate variant polioviruses by year-end.

In addition, Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth & Opportunity Division at the Gates Foundation, discussed plans to scale up drought-tolerant maize production and enhance the Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator programme, emphasizing the multi-billion-dollar opportunity it presents for the country.

The Gates Foundation’s Nigeria Country Office Director, Uche Amaonwu, acknowledged the partnership’s success, including a $60 million investment in various health programs, especially reproductive health initiatives.