According to Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and the chairman of the Gates Foundation, Africa’s future will be determined by the investments it makes in its young population.
Gates made the point that Africa’s young population has a unique advantage, but only if the necessary investments are made in health and education, as he did as a panelist at the Gate Foundation’s Goalkeepers event on Wednesday.
“Africa is a very young continent, which is amazing, and I constantly show people this slide.” Over half of African children will be born in the next half of the century. By far, the city (Lagos) in which we are currently located will be the largest city in the world. That will be intriguing and will maintain interest,” he said.
“Africa will remain the most fascinating continent in the coming century because of this incredible offset of its youth,” says the author. In what ways will the investments we make in their health and education over the next 20 years affect how much that youth can actually contribute to progress. There is an incredible future here if we give that priority.
READ ALSO: Bill Gates Spent $100 Billion On Healthcare In 25 Years Strengthened Partnerships In Nigeria, Other Countries
Gates responded affirmatively, citing local success stories, when asked whether he was still confident that Africa and Africans could still accomplish major health goals.
“Well, certainly Gombe State is an example of how the government of Africa is really focusing on the performance of the workforce and being willing to emphasize not just health but also primary health care, even in very tight budget conditions (which is true throughout Africa). And we quickly observe that when that is accomplished, nutrition rates rise, maternal deaths fall, and childhood deaths fall,” he said.
AI is “transforming healthcare.”
Gates also made a note of how innovation and technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), have altered the way healthcare is delivered across the continent.
“AI is progressing,” according to entrepreneurs in Africa, who are creating AI specifically to meet African needs. AI is improving at the global level.
If you combine the development of Africa’s riches, the rise of more philanthropists, the restoration of generosity in wealthy nations, and the sharing of best practices and innovations. Even for things like sickle cell disease, which we need to treat, we have some incredible tools available. It is a dramatic burden.
The co-founder of Microsoft praised Nigeria for its strong local partnerships and expressed hope that the world’s current five million child mortality rate could be reduced from 5 million cases annually.
We’ve had incredible partners in Nigeria who are aware of delivery and how to support government initiatives. In the end, the government bears the costs. We’re here to make those systems faster.
“The African nations will experience real economic momentum over the next 20 years.” It will be a huge help to them in understanding that, simplifying delivery, and lowering costs. For instance, the rates of childhood death, for example, have been significantly higher than I had anticipated. There is a lot to be proud of, but there is even more work to be done, according to Gates.
Foundation for Bill & Melinda Gates
Gates also made a note of the foundation’s recent 25-year work in Africa.
He disclosed that the Gates Foundation has spent $100 billion on global health since 2000, with the majority of it going to Africa.
“When we first started the Foundation in 2000, we firmly believed that all people have equal value. He said that one of our main concerns was reducing infant mortality globally, particularly in Africa.
“So I looked and said, “Are people seriously taking this?” Do they offer cheaper alternatives to traditional treatments, such as buying new malaria tools, or tailoring them to local needs? And no, it was not. That served as the Gates Foundation’s guiding principle.
The Goalkeepers event, hosted by the Foundation for Bill & Melinda Gates for the first time in Lagos, brought together global leaders, policymakers, and changemakers to assess progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Aliko Dangote, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Gombe State, and other dignitaries were among the other notable attendees.