UNGA; Vice President secures additional $600,000, $5 million relief grant for Nigeria
Nigeria has obtained a $600,000 relief fund and additional support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to bolster flood relief efforts and implement key reforms in the health and agricultural sectors.
The Foundation committed $600,000 specifically for flood relief in Borno State, while also pledging a $5 million grant aimed at advancing the agricultural economics of industrial cassava through a partnership with Lagos Business School.
The announcement followed a meeting between Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and Dr. Christopher Elias, head of the Gates Foundation’s Global Development Programme, held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice President Shettima reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to prioritizing health, nutrition, and agricultural development.
“We are deeply committed to addressing the pressing developmental challenges facing our nation, particularly the significant malnutrition crisis,” Shettima said, as quoted in a statement from Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications.
Shettima also emphasised the government’s dedication to food security, highlighting the importance of initiatives like the Cassava Accelerator and the Telemaze programme for maize production.
He promised swift action on import permits for certified seeds to advance Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“We recognise the critical importance of food security and industrial agricultural development. The Cassava Accelerator programme holds immense potential for our economy,” Shettima stated.
He also reiterated the administration’s focus on digital transformation, with plans to enhance public services through digitization and data exchange systems.
Dr. Christopher Elias of the Gates Foundation expressed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in times of crisis, particularly in response to severe flooding in Borno State.
He also pledged continued support for Nigeria’s health sector, specifically in the ongoing fight against polio. “We’re impressed by the national task force’s efforts to eliminate variant polioviruses by year-end,” Dr. Elias said.
Rodger Voorhies, President of the Gates Foundation’s Global Growth & Opportunity Division, outlined plans to scale up drought-tolerant maize production and expand the Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator programme.
He noted that the $5 million grant for agricultural development aims to unlock Nigeria’s potential in industrial cassava, which he described as a “multi-billion-dollar opportunity.”
Voorhies also requested import permits for 5,000 metric tons of certified maize seeds to establish a foundation seed system in the country.
The Gates Foundation’s support underscores its ongoing partnership with Nigeria in addressing critical challenges across various sectors, from health to agriculture, with a shared goal of driving sustainable development and improving the lives of Nigerians.
