JUST IN: Shettima host Bill Gates, Dangote, govs 

At the State House in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima is currently holding private meetings with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Foundation, and members of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

The 11:43 a.m. meeting is one of several events scheduled for Mr. Gates’ travel to Nigeria and the Niger Republic.

Only 72 hours had passed since Gates and Dangote met President Bola Tinubu in Abuja’s Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday.

Although the agenda of Thursday’s meeting is not yet known, the attendees would consider areas of collaboration between both foundations and the Nigerian government, especially in the health and education sectors.

Mr. Gates is visiting Nigeria to meet leaders and partners tackling health and development challenges.

A media advisory issued by the Foundation on Monday noted that the visit is part of the Gates Foundation’s commitment to work closely with communities and leaders to support innovation that can help accelerate progress and improve lives across Africa.

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“Gates and other foundation leaders are visiting to learn from partners helping to address polio, anaemia, and other health threats; scientists applying research to develop agricultural innovations that will help with food security and climate adaptation; innovators using technology to improve access to financial services; and others working to improve lives in Niger and Nigeria and throughout the continent,” the advisory read in part.

They have also met with national and regional leaders to encourage them to invest and advance policies that promote innovation and provide equitable opportunity, despite challenging economic conditions.

Earlier, Gates participated in a conversation with students and young leaders to gather insights and share perspectives on how science and innovation can accelerate positive change and contribute to a brighter outlook for Africa.

Seated for the meeting are the Chairman of the NGF, Governor Abdulrahman Adbulrazaq of Kwara State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Dr Umar Radda of Katsina, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto, and Umar Namadi of Jigawa State.

Also attending are Deputy Governors of Kaduna, Delta, Kano, Plateau, Ebonyi, and Benue states, amongst others.

The governors of Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Edo, Kebbi, Imo, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Rivers, Kogi, Taraba, Yobe and Gombe were yet to arrive.