Co-chair of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates is set to engage with Nigerian leaders, youth and development partners to address critical health challenges, drive innovation and enhance nutrition across Africa.
In a statement released by the Gates Foundation, it was announced that Gates will meet with national and local leaders, partners, grantees and innovators during his visit on Tuesday. The visit aims to discuss strategies for improving primary health care, agriculture and nutrition on the continent, despite ongoing economic challenges.
“Gates, alongside other foundation leaders, will meet with experts in primary health care, agriculture and nutrition who are driving progress across the continent,” the foundation stated.
In addition to these meetings, Gates will participate in a pan-African virtual dialogue focused on combating malnutrition through integrated health, agriculture, and financing solutions. He will be joined by musician, educator and humanitarian Jon Batiste in this dialogue.
The urgency of these discussions is underscored by alarming statistics from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which reports that every hour, 100 children under five years die of malnutrition in Nigeria. This equates to approximately 2,400 child deaths daily, highlighting the severe impact of high food prices and food insecurity on the youngest and most vulnerable.
According to the Global Hunger Index, the proportion of malnourished children in Nigeria rose from 9.3 per cent in 2022 to 15.9 per cent in 2023. Last year, 35 million children under the age of five suffered from malnutrition, with 12 million experiencing stunted growth, 3 million wasting due to rapid weight loss, and 23.5 million affected by anemia.
While there has been a slight reduction in stunting rates, the overall decline in child wasting, stunting, and mortality remains slow, indicating the need for urgent and sustained intervention.
