Microsoft founder Bill Gates, speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has said that most of his fortune will be spent on improving health and education services in Africa over the next 20 years.
According to Gates, the majority of that funding will be spent on helping to address challenges here in Africa
He emphasized the importance of good health and education as the foundation for development. “By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity, and that path is an exciting thing to be part of,” he said.
He called on young African innovators to consider how artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to revolutionize health care. “Africa largely skipped traditional banking, and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that,” Gates said.
He pointed to Rwanda’s use of AI-enabled ultrasound technology to identify high-risk pregnancies, as well as how mobile phones have revolutionized banking in Africa, as a successful example of how AI should be used for the continent’s benefit
Earlier this year, the US government cut aid to Africa, under US President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, with $985 million in confirmed program-specific appropriations revoked. Raising fears about the future of healthcare on the continent. Bill Gates’ pledge couldn’t have been more timely.
Former First Lady of Mozambique Graça Machel welcomed his announcement as coming at “a moment of crisis”.
“We are counting on Mr Gates’ steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us,” she said.
His foundation plans to concentrate on primary healthcare, especially improving maternal and child health. “Helping mothers to be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results,” Gates explained. He added that good nutrition for children in their first four years is crucial to long-term success.
Gates Foundation has a long history of operating in Africa, focusing on improving primary healthcare on the continent.
In 1999, the foundation pledged $750 million to establish Gavi, a Vaccine Alliance, to improve vaccine access in low-income countries, saving millions of lives in Africa.
It also launched the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, committing over $638 million to promote seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural productivity. Since 2003, $6 billion has been pledged to food and agriculture grants, with $5 billion allocated to Africa.
Gates revealed that 99% of his fortune, which he plans to give away, is expected to reach $200 billion (£150 billion) by 2045. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also intends to close its doors same time, after two decades of concentrated philanthropy.
The Nigerian stock market is currently showing signs of modest recovery, with bullish momentum building… Read More
Access bank through Access Holdings plc has taken over the assets of standard chartered bank… Read More
Ghanaian citizens would no longer require traditional visas to travel to Morocco, following a Visa-free… Read More
The North East caucus meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders descended into chaos on… Read More
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been stripped of his Legion d'honneur (Legion of Honor)… Read More
The Angel-A, a Collective global corporate innovation community fostering collaboration between large enterprises and technology… Read More
