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

MISSING PERSON FOUND DEAD

A missing Pennsylvania student has been found dead in  Bermuda , local police said in a press conference Monday. Mark Dombroski, 19, was last seen early Sunday morning at a bar, a representative from Bermuda Police Services said. Dombroski’s body was found “in a moat” at Fort     Howard would not confirm who found Dombroski’s body, but did say officers were on the scene. He also said the body was found close to police headquarters but not on police property. Dombroski was on the island to compete with Saint Joseph’s University’s rugby team in a competition, the university confirmed to ABC News. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the Dombroski family along with Mark’s teammates, classmates and friends,” the university said in a statement. “Saint Joseph’s students in need of counseling or ministry have been informed of available services. The circumstances of Mark’s death are still under investigation by the [Bermuda Police Services].” Prior to his disap...
Post a Comment
Read more

STUDENT UNION VOWS TO PROTEST...

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has vowed to stage a nationwide protest next week following the increase in petroleum pump price and removal of oil subsidy. NANS President, Tijani Shehu, told newsmen that their organization is already mobilizing Nigerian students to resist the new N145 per litre pump price of petrol.
Post a Comment
Read more