The Federal Government has commended the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its tremendous contributions to development projects in all fields, particularly the ongoing effort to improve healthcare, agriculture, and food security in Nigeria.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, made the commendation while receiving a delegation from the Foundation while on a courtesy to his office in Abuja on Wednesday.
Senator Bagudu said the Foundation had been helpful in supporting Nigeria to tackle some of her challenges, notably in polio eradication.
“The Ministry stands ready to cooperate promptly with the Foundation and feel free to interrogate our reports and processes, methods and reports so that we can explain and collaborate better”, he said.
Bagudu further stated that “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recorgnises that as leaders, we have to mobilize all , show respect to all and we have to give a place to investors especially those who are assisting in our developmental quest of which Bill and Mellenda Gates is certainly one”.
He congratulated the foundation on opening its office in Abuja and assured them of the Ministry’s access and availability in order to partner effectively.
The Country Director of the Foundation, Jeremie Zoungrana, in his remarks, said the visit was to strengthen ties on shared priorities in order to continue support for the Country.
Mr. Jeremie Zoungrana used the opportunity to call on Nigerian government to prioritize resource allocation as the key to the success of any development programme the government embanks on.
He added that over the past ten years, the foundation has invested two billion dollars in Nigeria adding that they are going through a strategy that will allow them extend their programmes to make more impact on the Country.
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