Tinubu pledges to prioritise Nigerians’ wellbeing, partners Dangote, Bill Gates

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to give priority attention to the health and safety of Nigerians, noting that for any country to develop, the wellbeing of its people, particularly the workforce, is fundamental.

Tinubu spoke, when he received in audience the co-founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, and President of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He commended the courage and commitment of Bill Gates in working for humanity, and partnership with Aliko Dangote Foundation.

The President said his administration would do all that is required to make their work in Nigeria and Africa successful, particularly in eradicating polio, measles, malaria and other diseases. He, however, warned about budgetary constraints and challenges of funding.

The President praised Bill Gates’ efforts towards mitigating climate change and eradicating polio and malaria from Africa. He told the philanthropist that the West needed to hear more from him with respect to the plight of developing countries, saying: “You have all it takes to help developing nations more.”

Dangote, in his remarks to the media after the visit, congratulated Tinubu on his election and successful assumption of office. He said the visit to the Villa was to brief the President on activities of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation, highlighting their commitment to improving the health sector in Nigeria.

Dangote expressed the Foundations’ willingness to cooperate further with government in achieving goals. He commended the President for removal of fuel subsidy, expressing confidence that more state funds would be allocated to education, health, infrastructure, and other critical areas of the economy.

Meanwhile, the President will, on Thursday, join world leaders in Paris, France, to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on priority list for support and investment. The President will be accompanied by members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and senior government officials.

A statement by Dele Alake, Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, explained that Tinubu would participate in the two-day summit that seeks ways to restore fiscal space to countries that face difficult short-term financial challenges, especially the most indebted.

According to Alake, the forum will mobilise innovative financing for countries vulnerable to climate change, foster development in low-income countries and encourage investment in “green” infrastructure for energy transition in emerging and developing economies.

During the summit, President Tinubu and the other global leaders, multilateral institutions, financial experts and economists will take a more holistic look at the recovery of economies from impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising cases of poverty, with a view to providing access to finance and investment that would leverage inclusive growth.

The summit, which will be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France, will be held at Palais Brongniart. The President is expected to return to Abuja on Saturday.