Nigeria has renewed its commitment to eradicating the polio virus by the end of 2023, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Bill Gates, a multibillionaire businessman and philanthropist, had declared that his foundation would invest $7 billion in Africa over the next four years. His generous promise was followed by this one.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced their intention to donate $7 billion to Nigeria and other African nations over the course of the following four years in November 2022. This sum represents a significant 40% growth over the preceding four years. The organization seeks to address a number of problems, including gender inequality, poverty, sickness, and hunger.
A sizeable portion of the money is anticipated to go to Nigeria, who will use it to improve the country’s basic healthcare system, advance efforts to eradicate polio, and make sure that all Nigerian children are covered by thorough immunization campaigns.
Speaking at the occasion, Vice President Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s unflinching commitment to entirely eradicate polio by December. He emphasized the need for prompt domestic financing for the purchase of vaccines and the significance of increasing the nation’s industrial capability for vaccine manufacture.
Vice President Shettima said that the coverage of the three-dose pentavalent vaccine has increased from 33% in 2016 to 57% in 2021, despite the difficulties Nigeria has in eliminating polio. He praised the states that had increased from 12 to 21 during the previous five years and had attained excellent immunization coverage.
Shettima expressed the appreciation of the federal government to donors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Dangote Foundation for their steadfast assistance during Nigeria’s trying times.
On June 22, 2023, Vice President Shettima and a number of governors from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) met in the Presidential Villa’s Banquet Hall to discuss methods for accomplishing sustainable development objectives.
Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote, two billionaires who were present, emphasized the significance of decisive action by Nigerian leaders.