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Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, on his current visit to Nigeria has emphasized the importance of leveraging science and innovation to improve agriculture and public health in the country.
Gates highlighted the potential for Nigeria to significantly increase her food production and become self-sufficient, while also addressing malnutrition and improving maternal health through innovative approaches.
The billionaire philanthropist pointed out that, despite Nigeria’s agricultural capacity, the country remains a net importer of food. However, with the right investments in infrastructure, credit facilities for farmers, and modern agricultural practices, he said Nigeria has the potential to double her food production and move from being an importer to an exporter of food.
This transformation, according to Gates, could not only boost the economy but also ease the pressure on foreign exchange reserves, which are currently being drained to import food at unfavorable exchange rates.
“In agriculture, Nigeria, today, is a net food importer given the geography. If the right credit facilities, advice to farmers, soil surveys, and other things are available, there’s the opportunity for Nigeria to more than double the food output. This would be pretty transformative because it would mean that you’d be a net food exporter instead of having to use very scarce dollars, particularly at the current exchange rate, to go buy food- you’re bringing dollars in,” Gates explained.
Agriculture plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of many Nigerians, particularly those in the northern, agrarian regions. Gates emphasized that increasing agricultural productivity could lead to improved incomes for rural farmers, while also addressing issues of equity, nutrition, and the empowerment of women.
“Particularly, agricultural productivity is important for the incomes in the rural, more northern areas. Embracing digital approaches, better seeds, and other innovations can help bring about an agricultural miracle that will benefit the country in terms of equity, women’s empowerment, and nutrition,” Gates noted.
Beyond agriculture, Gates also stressed the importance of improving public health in Nigeria. He highlighted the need for the Nigerian government to prioritize healthcare funding, but acknowledged that the country’s tax revenue remains insufficient to meet its growing needs.
“The health piece will have to be a priority. Over time, there are plans for Nigeria to fund the government more than it does today. The actual tax collection in Nigeria is pretty low,” Gates said.
He explained that without adequate funding, essential services like healthcare cannot be delivered effectively, and emphasized the interconnection between agriculture and health. Proper nutrition, Gates explained, is vital for maintaining health, particularly in the context of common diseases in Nigeria such as malaria and diarrhea.
“If you are malnourished, you are at much higher risk. If you get malaria or diarrhea, you are doubly at risk of dying from those diseases. But even if you survive, you’re not going to do as well as you deserve to in your education or any of your activities,” Gates stated.
Gates reiterated the critical role that agricultural productivity plays in addressing malnutrition, which remains a significant challenge in Nigeria. One way to combat malnutrition is by ensuring access to affordable, nutritious foods.
“We see this malnutrition, and part of the way we are going to solve this is by improving agricultural productivity. Malnutrition, part of it, is having access to low-cost foods, particularly milk,” he added.
To meet the growing demand for food in Nigeria, Gates emphasized the need for scientific research and innovation, particularly in the context of climate change.
He pointed out that climate change is already affecting food production, but advancements in seed technology can help mitigate its impact.
“Making food more available at low cost, using better seeds, and understanding that even with climate change, we can develop seeds that are resilient to less water or, in cases where there’s too much water, can still be highly productive,” Gates explained.
In addition to addressing agricultural challenges, Gates announced that Nigeria will soon receive three million bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to improve the health of pregnant women and their unborn children. The supplements, he explained, are a proven intervention to reduce maternal anemia and save the lives of thousands of children.
“We’ve shown that Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) could reduce two million cases of maternal anemia and save the lives of 70,000 babies,” Gates said.
Gates has been a long-standing advocate for improving health and agriculture in Nigeria. His visit further proves his commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development through science, innovation, and strategic investments that will drive progress in critical areas like food security and public health.
*Report by Dayo Emmanuel in Abuja
dayomanuel2@gmail.com
