The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a plan to donate $5.6 million to Nigeria for flood relief, agricultural reforms as well as the health sector.
This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of Vice President Kasim Shettima, Stanley Nkwocha, on Thursday via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Nkwocha said the donation was when the vice president held a meeting with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation led by its head of Global Development Programme, Dr Christopher Elias Chris Elias, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He stated that a total of $5.6 million was allocated, with $600,000 directed towards flood relief efforts in Borno State and other health sector initiatives, while a $5 million grant was approved for Lagos Business School and its partners to advance the agricultural economics of industrial cassava.
“To hasten relief efforts for victims of the devastating floods, as well as for health and agricultural sectors’ reforms, the Nigerian government has secured a $600,000 relief fund and commitments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“Specifically, the Foundation pledged $600,000 for flood relief in Borno State and other health sector initiatives, with an additional $5 million grant approved for Lagos Business School and partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava.
“The donation was announced when Vice President Kashim Shettima held a meeting with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation led by its head of Global Development Programme, Dr Christopher Elias, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York,” Nkwocha said.
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Furthermore, the vice president’s aide also shared that Shettima reiterated the administration’s commitment, under President Bola Tinubu, to prioritizing health, nutrition, and agricultural development as key pillars of the national agenda.
Shettima emphasized the Nigerian government’s dedication to integrity and effective leadership in tackling these issues, pointing out that there is an urgency in securing locations for maize production under the Telemaze program
“We are deeply committed to addressing the pressing developmental challenges facing our nation, particularly the significant malnutrition crisis.
“We recognize the critical importance of food security and industrial agricultural development. The Cassava Accelerator program, in particular, holds immense potential for our economy.
“We are pursuing a whole-of-government approach to digitization and data exchange systems, which we believe will revolutionize our public services,” Shettima added.
What you should know
The recent flood in Maiduguri is the worst since 1994, with residents in Borno on high alert as rising waters have submerged numerous homes. The flooding is primarily attributed to the overflow of the Alau Dam, which has been at full capacity for the past week.
In response to the disaster, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has proposed a relief package of N3 billion for states affected by the floods.
Additionally, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has pledged over $6.5 million to support humanitarian efforts related to flood relief in Nigeria. USAID announced that the funds will be directed towards local partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to address the widespread flooding affecting multiple regions across the country.
Prominent Nigerians, including business magnate Aliko Dangote and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have also made significant donations to support the people of Borno State during this crisis.
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