Why I spoke directly to Nigerian leaders – Bill Gates

The Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill
Gates, again on Monday criticised the Federal Government’s Economic
Recovery and Growth Plan.

Gates, in an interview with the CNN, said that the Federal
Government’s investment in education and health was not good
enough.

“While it may be easier to be polite, it’s more important to
face facts so that you can make progress,” the philanthropist told
a room of Nigeria’s government elite that included the
President.

In an exclusive television interview with the CNN, Gates said he
spoke out to implore Nigerian politicians to focus on human capital
and its large youth population.

“The current quality and quantity of investment in this young
generation in health and education just isn’t good enough. So, I
was very direct,” he told CNN.

The philanthropist had at a special session of the National
Economic Council, on Thursday, said Nigeria would do better with
strong investments in health and education, rather than concentrate
on physical infrastructure to the detriment of human capital
development.

He had said, “Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the
world to give birth, with the fourth worst maternal mortality rate
in the world ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic
and Chad. One in three Nigerian children is chronically
malnourished.

“In upper middle-income countries, the average life expectancy
is 75 years. In lower middle-income countries, it’s 68; in
low-income countries, it’s 62. In Nigeria, it is lower still, just
53 years.

“The Nigerian government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
identifies investing in the people as one of three strategic
objectives. But the execution priorities don’t fully reflect
people’s needs, prioritising physical capital over human capital.
People without roads, ports and factories can’t flourish. And
roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and
manage them can’t sustain an economy.”

But the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, in an interview
with State House correspondents after the NEC meeting, faulted the
claim of Gates.

He said the plan had enough provisions for education and health,
adding that what was needed was for states to complement efforts of
the Federal Government.

The Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill
Gates, again on Monday criticised the Federal Government’s Economic
Recovery and Growth Plan.

Gates, in an interview with the CNN, said that the Federal
Government’s investment in education and health was not good
enough.

“While it may be easier to be polite, it’s more important to
face facts so that you can make progress,” the philanthropist told
a room of Nigeria’s government elite that included the
President.

In an exclusive television interview with the CNN, Gates said he
spoke out to implore Nigerian politicians to focus on human capital
and its large youth population.

“The current quality and quantity of investment in this young
generation in health and education just isn’t good enough. So, I
was very direct,” he told CNN.

The philanthropist had at a special session of the National
Economic Council, on Thursday, said Nigeria would do better with
strong investments in health and education, rather than concentrate
on physical infrastructure to the detriment of human capital
development.

He had said, “Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the
world to give birth, with the fourth worst maternal mortality rate
in the world ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic
and Chad. One in three Nigerian children is chronically
malnourished.

“In upper middle-income countries, the average life expectancy
is 75 years. In lower middle-income countries, it’s 68; in
low-income countries, it’s 62. In Nigeria, it is lower still, just
53 years.

“The Nigerian government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
identifies investing in the people as one of three strategic
objectives. But the execution priorities don’t fully reflect
people’s needs, prioritising physical capital over human capital.
People without roads, ports and factories can’t flourish. And
roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and
manage them can’t sustain an economy.”

But the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, in an interview
with State House correspondents after the NEC meeting, faulted the
claim of Gates.

He said the plan had enough provisions for education and health,
adding that what was needed was for states to complement efforts of
the Federal Government.