Melinda, wife of one of the world’s top richest men and
philanthropist, Bill Gates, is currently in Kaduna meeting with the
state governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Melinda Gates with top officials of the Kaduna state government
Melinda, a co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an
organisation which is into charity reportedly met with the governor
and his economic team.
Mrs. Gates, whose plane landed at the Kaduna Airport, governor
that the Gates Foundation, also lauded Kaduna State’s drive to
improve the range and credibility of data collection. “Your
commitment to data collection is really admirable. You can't make
decisions without data. We are pleased to help you with that”.
She assured the governor that the Gates Foundation has a joint
interest with the Kaduna State Government to reduce infant
mortality. Assessing the progress on routine immunization, Mrs.
Gates said the BMGF is impressed by the scale of the polio
surveillance mounted by the Kaduna State Government.
Speaking further on the healthcare segment of the partnership
between her foundation and Kaduna State, Mrs. Gates said that
the primary health centres will continue to be supported so that
they can offer a broad range of services to patients.
Mrs. Gates also promised that the BMGF will invest more in
agriculture and in promoting access to financial services.
Malam El-Rufai expressed gratitude to the Gates Foundation for
supporting Kaduna State. He proposed that the partnership
between the foundation and the state should be strengthened by
making it to better cohere with the state’s priorities. These
include maternal and child health, child spacing and nutrition. He
further suggested that the BMGF should support the state’s data
revolution, its state residency identification system and efforts to
promote security and justice, and to address the root causes of
poverty and development.
The governor noted that Mrs. Gates’ direct flight to Kaduna
Airport is a welcome endorsement. He added that Kaduna State
looks forward to strengthening the relationship between the two
partners.
After the meeting, she is expected to be hosted by Hajia Aisha
Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari and they would
discuss issues concerning women.
Mrs Aisha will also be partnering, through the Future Assured, her
organisation, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on issues
affecting women and children in Africa.
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