ADDIS ABABA: In a powerful speech delivered at Nelson Mandela Hall within the African Union headquarters, Bill Gates reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to Africa by announcing that the majority of his $200 billion pledge will be directed towards advancing the continent’s health and development sectors. Addressing a crowd of more than 12,000, including African officials, diplomats, and youth leaders, Gates called on African governments to act decisively in tackling health and education challenges through innovation.
“I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” Gates stated, as reported by the African Media Agency.
He placed particular emphasis on primary healthcare, underscoring how impactful early childhood nutrition and maternal health are in shaping future generations. “With primary healthcare, what we’ve learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results,” Gates said.
Reflecting on two decades of hands-on involvement for health in Africa, Gates highlighted the determination of communities that often thrive despite scarce resources. “The kind of field work to get solutions out, even in the most rural areas, has been incredible,” he added.
Looking to the future, Gates praised the continent’s embrace of artificial intelligence and likened it to the way Africa leapfrogged traditional banking with mobile finance systems. “As you build your next generation healthcare systems, think about how AI is built into that,” he urged.
Gates’s remarks signalled a blend of urgency and optimism, encouraging Africa to seize the moment by nurturing its youth, investing in healthcare, and driving innovative change that could define the continent’s future for generations.
