Skip to main content

Nigeria among most dangerous countries to give birth – Bill Gates

         Bill Gates, world second richest man, on Thursday declared that Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places to give birth


The Chairman of Bill and Melinda Foundation, said Nigeria has the fourth worst maternal mortality rate in the world behind Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad.
He spoke at the Expanded National Economic Council, NEC, presided over by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in Abuja.
Gates disclosed that his foundation’s biggest office in Africa was in Nigeria where he had committed over $1.6 billion with the intention of increasing his commitment in the country.
He said, “The most important choice you can make is to maximize your greatest resource, the Nigerian people. Nigeria will thrive when every Nigerian is able to thrive.
“If you invest in their health, education and opportunities – the “human capital” we are talking about today – then they will lay the foundation for sustained prosperity. If you don’t, however, then it is very important to recognise that there will be a sharp limit on how much the country can grow.
“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.
“I urge you to apply this thinking to all your investments in your people. The Nigerian government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identifies investing in our people as one of three strategic objectives.
“But the execution priorities don’t fully reflect people’s needs, prioritizing physical capital over human capital.
“To anchor the economy over the long term, investments in infrastructure and competitiveness must go hand in hand with investments in people.
“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.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From homeless to $100m! Steve Harvey opens up about overcoming homelessness

Comedian, actor, talk show host and best selling author, Steve Harvey has had some ups and downs and now the comedian is opening up about being homeless at the beginning of his career. His rags-to-riches tale is one of integrity, ingenuity and success. For an interview with  People , Harvey revealed that while he's now amassed an empire estimated to be worth $100 million, he was once homeless and living out of his Ford Tempo. The  Family Feud  hosts says that there were moments when he wasn't sure how he'd make it through. "It kills me when I hear very successful people say, 'I always knew I would get here,' " he says. "I didn't. I always hoped I would get somewhere, but this is above and beyond. My imagination didn't even go this big." "Everybody has a moment when they turn back, when you say to yourself, 'This is too much,' I had it on several occasions." And, when Harvey realized that he...
Post a Comment
Read more

mother, Child and 2 others Killed in bomb explosion

Woman with her baby, 2 others killed in Bomb explosion in Biu, Borno state Four persons including a woman and her baby have been confirmed dead in a bomb attack in Biu, Borno state this morning. According to a statement by the Nigerian Army, at about 8.15am today a tricycle, known as “Keke NAPEP” unknowingly stepped on an Improvise Explosive Device (IED) planted by the side of Biu -Damboa road close to a military checkpoint at the outskirts of Biu town, Borno State. Unfortunately, the IED exploded instantly killing 4 persons comprising of a woman with her baby and 2 other male adults. Three other persons were injured including a soldier and they were immediately evacuated to Biu General Hospital. We regret to state that the injured soldier also died at the hospital. The general area has been cordoned off and Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Buratai have been mobilized to carryout further search of the area. Preliminary investigation...
Post a Comment
Read more