Nigeria secures $600,000 funding during 79th UNGA

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Ameenah Hassan

Vice-President Kashim Shettima Attacks Kemi Badenoch

Nigeria has secured $600,000 funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This is to support flood victims in Borno State, alongside other reforms in the health and agricultural sectors.

Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the funding to Nigeria during the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Shettima emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration prioritises resolving Nigeria’s urgent problems with food security and malnutrition.

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“We are deeply committed to addressing the pressing developmental challenges facing our nation, particularly the significant malnutrition crisis”, he declared.

According to the Vice President, the government focuses on fostering development through effective leadership. The various innovative programs would create sustainable solutions in critical sectors like agriculture, health, and digital services.

Other Mentioned programmes

A key initiative in this agenda is the “Cassava Accelerator Program,” which holds immense economic potential for Nigeria.

Cassava, a major crop in Nigeria, has the potential to contribute to industrial development and generate revenue.

Vice President Shettima also referenced the Telemaze program, a government-backed initiative aimed at improving maize production across Nigeria.

He stressed the urgency of the government finding land for growing maize and quickly issuing import permits for approved maize seeds.

Dr. Christopher Elias, the Foundation’s President of Global Development, emphasized in his remarks the foundation’s dedication to helping Nigeria during difficult times, such as the devastating floods that have hit Borno State.

Elias conveyed his worries about the flooding and reaffirmed the foundation’s willingness to assist those in need.

Beyond flood relief, the Gates Foundation pledged to support ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s health sector. Elias stated that the national task force’s efforts to eradicate polioviruses by the end of the year have been impressive, and the foundation has been actively involved in efforts to eradicate polio.

For both the government and its foreign allies, eliminating polio in Nigeria is still their top priority.

Apart from its efforts to eradicate polio, the Gates Foundation is concentrating on increasing maize production in Nigeria.

The Gates Foundation’s president of the Global Growth and Opportunity Division, Rodger Voorhies, provided details on the organization’s initiatives to create drought-tolerant maize.

The foundation approved a $5 million grant for the Lagos Business School and partners to advance industrial cassava production in Nigeria

What do you need to know?

The meeting at the UNGA focused on Nigeria’s broader development goals, with the Gates Foundation reaffirming its support across multiple sectors.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of the Dangote Group, attended the discussions and made a courtesy visit to Vice President Shettima.

As co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dangote continues to play a role in furthering Nigeria’s development and economic goals.

Ameenah Hassan

Ameenah Hassan is a content writer with experience in public relations. She has contributed to Arbiterz since 2021, writing research-based news and features on business. She is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at the University of Lagos.