The administration of President Bola Tinubu has secured a $600,000 relief fund from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to assist flood victims in Borno State, along with initiatives aimed at improving health and agricultural sectors.
This announcement was made during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and Dr. Christopher Elias, the President of the Foundation’s Global Development Programme, held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, the relief fund is intended to “accelerate relief efforts for the victims of the devastating floods and support reforms in health and agriculture.”
The statement, titled “Nigeria Secures $600,000 for Flood Relief, Health, Agric Sectors’ Reforms,” was released on Thursday.
In addition, the government has established a Disaster Relief Fund aimed at strengthening resilience against such crises. Finance Minister Wale Edun noted that this fund will tackle climate change challenges by gathering resources from various public, private, and international sources.
Alongside the $600,000 earmarked for flood relief in Borno, the Gates Foundation has also approved a $5 million grant to the Lagos Business School for developing the agricultural economics of industrial cassava.
Vice President Shettima reiterated the administration’s focus on enhancing health, nutrition, and agricultural development. “Food security and the advancement of industrial agriculture are essential for our nation,” he stated, emphasizing the Cassava Accelerator program’s role in economic growth.
Additionally, he highlighted the government’s commitment to digital transformation, declaring, “We are implementing a comprehensive approach to digitization and data exchange that will transform our public services.”
Shettima expressed optimism that, with the backing of the Gates Foundation and other partners, Nigeria could achieve significant progress and enhance the quality of life for its citizens.
Dr. Christopher Elias, President of the Gates Foundation’s Global Development Programme, voiced concern over the flooding crisis in Borno and reaffirmed the Foundation’s dedication to supporting Nigeria during emergencies. He also commended the government’s efforts to combat polio, underscoring the aim of eliminating variant polioviruses by the end of the year.
For updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0JG