In this interview, Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discusses with LARA ADEJORO the state of nutrition in Nigeria and the African continent. He explores the challenges, progress, and potential strategies for improving nutritional outcomes across the region.
How does your foundation’s work align with Nigeria’s national strategy and global development goals?
Our mission is straightforward: we aim to support efforts that enhance health, education, and economic opportunities for children and families in Nigeria and across Africa. This work is deeply personal to me, as I’ve been involved in similar initiatives worldwide for decades. Nigeria’s leaders have shown strong support for these goals, and I am excited about the President’s efforts to unite government, the private sector, and philanthropy through initiatives like the Presidential Economic Coordination Council. The health and well-being of its people are fundamental to Nigeria’s development, and a thriving Nigeria is crucial for a prosperous Africa.
What inspired your foundation’s focus on nutrition in Nigeria, and how have your personal experiences influenced this decision?
Nutrition is central to improving health, supporting education, and strengthening the food economy. Over the past 25 years, the global community has achieved remarkable success in reducing child mortality, cutting the number of children who die before their fifth birthday by half. This is one of the greatest public health achievements in history. Yet, malnutrition remains the root cause for nearly half of the children who still die today. In sub-Saharan Africa, two in five people are malnourished, marking the highest rate in nearly two decades. That’s why we’ve invested over $2 billion in improving health outcomes, boosting agricultural productivity, and promoting economic opportunities for women and marginalized populations in Nigeria. We believe everyone deserves access to healthy, nutritious food, and we are working to build more sustainable and nutritious food systems to ensure Nigeria’s children, women, and families can thrive.
How is the foundation leveraging collaborations with the government and other organizations to enhance its nutrition initiatives in Nigeria? What challenges have you faced?
The challenges in nutrition and agriculture have grown in recent years, with climate change devastating entire harvests and rising prices making it difficult for families to afford food. In Nigeria and other African countries, we collaborate closely with partner organizations, government institutions, and community stakeholders. For instance, we work with the Nutrition Society to catalyze a network of local researchers and partner with milk producers to support small dairy farmers affected by climate change. We’re also working with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency to improve early warnings for weather emergencies. These collaborations are driving innovation and creating support structures across Nigeria, making the country more resilient to climate change and better equipped to meet its nutrition goals.
How does your foundation integrate cultural knowledge and navigate sensitivities in its nutrition programs to ensure they are effective?
The communities we aim to support have the best understanding of their needs. We prioritize home-grown solutions to development challenges by partnering with both multinational and local organizations that are well-positioned to understand the wants and needs of Nigerians. For example, we support the Nigeria-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in helping local farmers increase the production of affordable, nutritious foods. We’re working on projects that supply farmers with improved varieties of crops, such as iron-rich beans, Vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes, and hardy cassava, millet, and sorghum. These efforts not only improve community health but also boost local and national economies. Higher yields can transform Nigeria from a net importer to a net exporter of agricultural goods, improving lives and paving the way for true food security. Importantly, these initiatives are informed by local community stakeholders, whose insights shape the development and implementation of these transformative products.
How is your foundation addressing the intersection of nutrition and climate change in Nigeria, and what innovative strategies are you employing?
Nigeria currently faces the second highest rate of food insecurity globally, and climate change is exacerbating the problem. Arable land is disappearing, pests are destroying crops, and food prices are soaring. Climate-related losses on African farms are more than double those seen globally, with the poorest farmers being hit hardest. We’re working with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to better understand the climate-induced hunger crisis. By 2050, climate change could lead to an additional 40 million children suffering from stunting, on top of the 400 million children who already lack sufficient nutrients.
However, the pace of innovation is keeping up with the challenges posed by climate change. Our vision is for an agricultural transformation led by smallholder farmers who have the knowledge, tools, and technologies to improve their livelihoods. One promising innovation, led by Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, involves fortifying bouillon cubes with essential nutrients. This could prevent over 11,000 deaths from neural tube defects and avert 16.8 million cases of anemia each year in Nigeria. We are working closely with the government and private sector to expand this initiative, aiming to maximize its positive impact.
There are many promising solutions to improve nutrition, and by embracing them, Nigeria has the potential to save countless lives.
By Ebubedike Ochu
