The Nigerian government has obtained a $600,000 relief fund from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support relief efforts for flood victims and advance health and agricultural reforms. This was announced during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Gates Foundation’s leadership, led by Dr. Christopher Elias, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The fund aims to assist flood relief efforts, particularly in Borno State, and support health sector initiatives. Additionally, the foundation has approved a $5 million grant for Lagos Business School and its partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava.
This announcement follows the Nigerian government’s establishment of a Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which seeks to bolster resilience against natural disasters, particularly floods. The DRF pools resources from both public and private sectors as well as international donors, in response to the increasing threats posed by climate change.
Vice President Shettima emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing challenges in health, nutrition, and agriculture, reaffirming a focus on food security through initiatives like the Telemaze programme and the cassava accelerator. He also highlighted the government’s push for digital transformation, aiming to modernize public services.
Dr. Elias, President of the Gates Foundation’s Global Development Programme, expressed the foundation’s concern over the severe flooding in Borno and its continued support for Nigeria, particularly in eliminating variant polioviruses by year-end. Rodger Voorhies, President of the foundation’s Global Growth & Opportunity Division, outlined plans to scale up drought-tolerant maize production and boost the cassava investment accelerator, identifying industrial cassava as a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for Nigeria.
The Gates Foundation’s ongoing collaboration with Nigeria has also included a $60 million investment in reproductive health programmes, showcasing its commitment to long-term development in the country.
