Nigeria Secures $600,000 Gates Foundation Relief Fund for Flood Victims and Sectors Reforms
The Nigerian government has secured a $600,000 relief fund and commitments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support flood relief efforts and sector reforms. The announcement was made during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and the head of Global Development Programme at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Christopher Elias, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The relief fund will be used to hasten relief efforts for victims of the devastating floods in Nigeria, as well as for health and agricultural sectors’ reforms. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed that the fund will also support health and agricultural sector reforms.
The announcement comes days after the Federal Government established a Disaster Relief Fund to enable it to build greater resilience in preventing and responding to natural disasters nationwide, especially floods. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the DRF would consider the unique threats posed by Climate Change by pooling funds from a broad spectrum of public and private sector players and international donors.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $600,000 for flood relief in Borno state and other health sector initiatives. The foundation also approved a $5 million grant for Lagos Business School and partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava. The grant is part of the Cassava Accelerator programme, which aims to revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
During a meeting with top Nigerian government officials, Vice President Shettima reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to placing health, nutrition, and agricultural development at the forefront of Nigeria’s national agenda. He emphasized the government’s dedication to integrity and effective leadership in tackling developmental challenges, including the significant malnutrition crisis in Nigeria.
Shettima also highlighted the importance of food security and industrial agricultural development, noting that the Cassava Accelerator programme holds immense potential for Nigeria’s economy. He pledged swift action on import permits for certified seeds and emphasized the need for digitization and data exchange systems in public services.
The Vice President expressed confidence that with the expertise of Nigeria’s ministers and the continued support of partners like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nigeria is capable of driving meaningful change and improving the lives of all Nigerians.
Dr. Elias, head of Global Development Programme at the Gates Foundation, expressed concern about the severe flooding in Borno state and pledged to support Nigeria in times of crisis. He also highlighted the foundation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s health sector reforms, particularly in the fight against polio.
The meeting also saw discussions on scaling up drought-tolerant maize production and advancing the Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator programme. The foundation has approved a $5 million grant for Lagos Business School and partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava.
The Director of Nigeria Country Office at the Gates Foundation, Uche Amaonwu, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership between Nigeria and the foundation, particularly highlighting a $60 million investment in sector-wide programmes and collaborations on reproductive health issues.
Other attendees at the meeting included Deputy Director, Programme Advocacy and Communications at the Gates Foundation, Ekenem Isichei, and top Nigerian government officials.
In a related development, President/CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, paid a courtesy call to Vice President Shettima. As co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dangote is involved in various initiatives aimed at promoting economic development in Nigeria.
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