Bill Gates Expresses Optimism about Nigeria’s Future

…Says, innovative, talented young people are a powerful asset

The co-chair of the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates has declared that Nigeria has one of the biggest youth populations in the world which is growing fast.

This was as he said that when it comes to making the world a better place, young people are the most important asset

Gates, who stated these at a forum with students and young innovators from Nigeria and across Africa, discussed how science and innovation can accelerate positive change and contribute to a brighter future for Africa.

The conversation took place during ‘Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation.’ The hybrid in-person and online event which was co-hosted by the Lagos Business School and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), in partnership with Africa.com and Channels Television.

Gates particularly commended Nigeria’s youth and many Nigerian partners whom the Gates Foundation has worked with for more than a decade. These include scientists who are scaling up new interventions that save mothers and babies, researchers who are helping smallholder farmers thrive in the face of climate change and grow more nutritious foods, and companies that are expanding access to digital financial tools.

He further said; “Nigeria has one of the biggest youth populations in the world, and it is growing fast. That represents a lot of potential skills and passion to solve big problems”.

Gates also stressed that progress had not been equally distributed thus, highlighted poor digital access for many Nigerians and inconsistent availability of health services, education, and employment – especially for women.

In the words of Gates; “I’m a huge believer in the power of science and innovation to help people lead long, healthy lives. But, one of the big lessons I’ve learned is that the benefits don’t automatically reach everyone. To do that, the people creating new breakthroughs, the people funding them, and the people getting them into the world all need to prioritize equity.”

While responding to questions from the audience, Gates emphasized ways he sees Nigeria’s youth collaborating across sectors and encouraging the country’s leaders to follow through on commitments to make life in Nigeria better for everyone.