‘You Have Touched Humanity in Many Positive Ways’, Buhari Lauds Dangote and Gates

  • Buhari congratulated the duo for returning part of their wealth to the people in diverse ways.
  • Gates says he is pleased that one of the priorities of the administration was human capital development.

President Muhammadu Buhari commended the contributions of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as Aliko Dangote Foundation to humanitarian and developmental activities in Nigeria.

During a meeting with the duo at the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Buhari said they have touched humanity in many positive ways and congratulated them “for achieving what you had set out to do.”

While thanking them for deriving pleasure in helping people, Buhari congratulated the duo for returning part of their wealth to the people in diverse ways.

READ: What Can Be Done to End Corruption – Dangote

“Whatever we save in areas in which you have intervened, we can deploy to other areas like the building of infrastructure,” President Buhari said.

Speaking on agriculture in which Dangote his a huge investor, the President noted that farmers were very happy in Nigeria now as there is fertilizer available which has cut food price by half, and given many other incentives.

“They have no regret going back to the lands. The more we invest in agriculture, the better for us,” he added.

Speaking, Gates congratulated President Buhari on the formation of his cabinet which he described as exciting.

He also said he was pleased that one of the priorities of the administration was human capital development, of which health, nutrition and education are key components.

Noting that Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as Aliko Dangote Foundations, keep track of Nigeria’s attainments on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as enunciated by the United Nations, he submitted that they were encouraged that there was an improvement in reduction of child mortality.

“Every local government area has better health/education situation today than in the year 2000. We are delighted with that. Nigeria is our biggest commitment in Africa. It’s only in India we do more in the world,” Mr Gates said.

READ: Buhari Lauds Bill Gates, Promises Not to Fail Nigerians

On polio eradication, he said Nigeria reached a zero wild poliovirus free milestone for three years in August, noting that the next six months were critical so that the country could finally be declared polio-free.

Dangote also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian military for helping with vaccination in the theatres of war while fighting insurgency, thus adding to the advances in the country’s polio status. 

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