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Bill Gates Pledges Majority Of $200B Fund To Africa
Mr Gates particularly emphasised the importance of investing in primary healthcare systems, citing them as the foundation for broader development.
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has announced that the majority of the $200 billion his foundation will disburse over the next two decades will be allocated to improving health and development in Africa.
On Monday in Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr Gates, the chair of the Gates Foundation, emphasised that Africa would receive the largest share of the funding, citing the continent’s potential and the urgent needs.
“I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” he told the audience, including African leaders, health professionals, youth representatives, and development partners.
Mr Gates praised African governments that prioritise the health and well-being of their citizens and called for more investment in primary healthcare.
Local innovation
“Investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing,” he said, noting that strong maternal and child nutrition support in the early years of life helps break cycles of poverty and disease.
On Sunday, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed awarded Mr Gates the country’s highest state honour for 25 years of the foundation’s work in key development sectors.
Throughout his speech, Mr Gates highlighted how countries like Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia are already showing what is possible when bold leadership meets innovation.
He pointed to initiatives such as scaling up frontline health services, using data to reduce child mortality, and deploying advanced tools against malaria and HIV.
Mr Gates particularly emphasised the importance of investing in primary healthcare systems, citing them as the foundation for broader development.
“With primary healthcare, what we’ve learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results,” he said.
“Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference.”
AI in healthcare
Mr Gates also spoke about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, noting its relevance for the continent’s future.
“I’m seeing young people in Africa embracing this and thinking about how it applies to the problems that they want to solve,” he said.
Referring to Africa’s mobile banking revolution, he urged leaders to now imagine AI being woven into healthcare and governance systems.
He noted that Rwanda already uses AI-enabled ultrasound to detect high-risk pregnancies earlier, helping women receive timely, potentially life-saving care.
In Nigeria, Mr Gates is scheduled to meet with President Bola Tinubu later during the week and participate in a “Goalkeepers Nigeria” event focused on scaling innovation, where discussions are expected to touch on Nigeria’s primary healthcare reform agenda and national AI strategy.
This visit follows the Gates Foundation’s announcement in May that it will spend $200 billion over the next 20 years to end preventable maternal and child deaths, eliminate deadly infectious diseases, and lift millions of people out of poverty.
Commitment to Africa
Africa has been a central focus of the Gates Foundation’s work for over two decades. Since opening its first office in Ethiopia 13 years ago, the foundation has expanded to Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal.
During this time, it has supported over 100 innovations and helped save more than 80 million lives, largely through partnerships with Gavi and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Following his address, Mr Gates joined a fireside chat with Paulin Basinga, the Gates Foundation’s Africa director, where both men discussed how governments can work more closely with local innovators to solve challenges.
Other speakers included the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
In her remark, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala praised African governments for driving progress in public health and development.
She emphasised that Africa’s health progress is a result of strong government leadership, resilient communities, and partnerships that deliver results.
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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu as the Managing Director of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja.
Naija News reports that the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) is responsible for conducting research and development in technology and for operating a nuclear research facility.
According to a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu also appointed Engr. Adesayo Olusegun Michael as the Managing Director/CEO of the Board of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
Other Board members of NEMSA appointed by the President include: Engr. Aliyu Abdulazeez (Executive Director, Technical); Ikechi Clara Nwosu (Chairman, South East); Zubair Abdur’rauf Idris (Member); Igba Elizabeth (Member-North Central); Sani Alhaji Shehu (Member–North East); Adeyemi Adetunji (Member–South West); Engr Emmanuel Eneji Nkpe (Member–South South) and Engr. Charles Ogbonna Asogwa (South East).
Similarly, the President nominated Amina Gamawa, representing Bauchi, and Abdullahi Muktar, representing Kaduna, as Commissioners to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Onanuga added that the President has sent the names of the two nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Details of Nigeria’s military collaboration with the United States have emerged, following heightened coordination after former US President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) last October.
The move came amid allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, which the federal government has consistently denied.
Trump later threatened to deploy troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to eliminate terrorists targeting Christians, prompting President Bola Tinubu to send a high-level delegation, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, to meet US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“Hegseth assured us that the department is working aggressively with Nigeria to combat terrorism, but the details of engagement were not disclosed at the time,” a source familiar with the meeting said.
Days after the high-level talks, the US began intelligence-gathering flights over Nigerian territory using contractor-operated aircraft originating from Accra, Ghana,
Punch reported. On Christmas Day, the US launched strikes on two terrorist enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza LGA, Sokoto state.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the “precision hits” were the result of intelligence sharing and strategic coordination under international and bilateral agreements.
Communities in Sokoto and Kwara states reported explosions, later identified as debris from precision-guided munitions (PGMs) fired by the US.
Officials revealed that the US requested a station in Nigeria to refuel drones after missions from Ghana, initially suggesting Lagos or Abuja, but the federal government proposed a north-eastern state hosting Nigeria’s drone operations.
An official said: “We’re not going to have boots on the ground. They will support Nigeria in equipment, intelligence, or advisory capacity, including training. This is not a combat operation.”
The station is expected to enhance logistical support and coordination between the two countries’ military forces
General Dagvin Anderson, head of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), confirmed the deployment of a “small team” to Nigeria, sparking public interest.
As reported by TheCable: “AFRICOM has always collaborated with Nigeria. US troops have been present, but the scope of their assignment has changed to support intelligence and training initiatives.”
Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s minister of Defence, explained that the personnel are not combat troops but a small advisory team assisting in intelligence gathering and training.
An official also noted that the team played a key role in coordinating the Christmas Day strikes.
Kogi State Government temporarily closes markets and motor parks to enhance security operations against criminals The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the closure affects seven local government areas, targeting logistics and movement of supplies for criminal elements Fanwo assures closure is temporary, to be lifted after successful completion of security operations
Lokoja, Kogi State – The Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led Kogi State Government has ordered the temporary closure of selected markets and motor parks in seven local government areas of the state.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the markets and motor parts are being shut down to intensify and coordinate security operations in the affected areas.
Fanwo said the development is to help flush out terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements operating within parts of the state. As reported by Daily Trust, he made this known while briefing journalists on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in Lokoja.
He said the affected markets and motor parks are located in Lokoja, Kogi, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Mopa Muro, Yagba West, and Yagba East local government areas of the state’s western district.
“The directive affects selected communities across seven local government areas of the state. “The measure is in support of ongoing clearance operations being carried out in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the heads of security agencies in Kogi State.”
According to Fanwo, the temporary closure is to cut off logistics, restrict the movement of consumables, and deny criminal elements. The commissioner also denied their informants access to food supplies and other forms of support during the security exercise. He disclosed that the closure was strictly temporary and would be lifted immediately after the conclusion of the security operations in the affected areas.
Recall that the Kogi state government shut schools in the state to enhance security for students amid rising threats. The state government emphasised proactive measures rather than reactive responses to avoid potential crises. The development comes amid calls for police decentralisation to empower local governments in tackling insecurity.
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