Bill Gates Donates $2m To Governors For Social Programmes

BEVERLY HILL, December 01, (THEWILL) – Bill and Medlinda Gates Foundation has announced a three-year $2m partnership with the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) aimed at strengthening cross-state policies and social programmes in Nigeria.

Chief Strategy Officer at the Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman, who made the announcement at a press briefing, on Thursday in Abuja, announced that the partnership would also strengthen financial resources that would benefit the poorest people in the country.

He said the partnership will focus on domestic revenue challenge, with the aim of strengthening public financing for social programmes adding that the fund would also afford the NGF and the Gates Foundation to develop a road map for future collaboration in strengthening Primary Health Care in Nigeria that would unlock funding dedicated to the work.

“The Gates Foundation recognises how critical state leadership is to development in Nigeria,” Suzman said.

“This is because two-thirds of social spending in Nigeria occurs at the sub national information exchange, collaboration on policy, and the work of executive governors in determining how best to ensure Federal and state policies work for Nigeria's poorest.

“The Gates Foundation and NGF have previously partnered together on polio eradication in Nigeria, with notable success.

“However, there is still work to be done to finish the job on polio, and the NGF is a critical partner in maintaining the country's commitment to polio eradication.”

Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, who spoke on behalf of the governors, promised the donors that the fund would be judiciously used revealing that the Governors were pleased with the partnership.

Story by Oputah David