How Nigeria can tackle food insecurity, malnutrition - Bill Gates – Newstrends
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How Nigeria can tackle food insecurity, malnutrition – Bill Gates

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Bill Gates

How Nigeria can tackle food insecurity, malnutrition – Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has urged Nigerian leaders to prioritize tackling malnutrition and food insecurity as part of Nigeria’s development agenda.

This is in his address at the National Economic Council (NEC), which Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over at the Presidential Villa.

Gates stressed that the nation’s long-term stability and prosperity could be at risk without urgent investments in nutrition and agriculture.

Gates, whose foundation has invested over $2.8 billion in Nigeria to date, highlighted the severity of the country’s food security crisis, noting that Nigeria has the second-highest rate of food insecurity in the world. Climate change, land degradation, and soaring food prices have compounded the issue, leaving millions of Nigerians vulnerable to hunger.

Gates said, “Nigeria’s future hinges on solving the intertwined problems of malnutrition and food insecurity,”

According to him, when children are malnourished, they are more susceptible to deadly diseases, and the long-term effects of malnutrition stunt both their physical and cognitive development.

He said this limits their potential and the country’s future prospects.”

Gates praised the efforts of Nigerian scientists working to fortify staple foods with essential nutrients, including an initiative to fortify bouillon cubes—a dietary staple that, if scaled up, could save thousands of lives and prevent millions of cases of anaemia each year.

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However, he emphasized that private-sector collaboration and strict government oversight are crucial to ensuring compliance with food fortification mandates.

“Fortified foods are a lifeline for many Nigerians, but too many companies are not meeting the required standards,” Gates warned. “Government and business leaders must work together to make nutritious foods more affordable and available.”

Reflecting on his over two decades of experience in the country, Gates reiterated his commitment to Nigeria while warning of the challenges ahead if investments aren’t made strategically.

“Nigeria’s economy has stagnated,” Gates stated, highlighting the country’s growing debt burden, which exceeded 50% of GDP earlier this year.

He urged leaders to focus on raising revenue and using funds wisely, especially in sectors that would yield the greatest impact.

Gates lauded Nigeria’s achievements, such as the ambitious HPV vaccination campaign that reached over 12 million girls, but cautioned that the country still spends disproportionately on secondary and tertiary healthcare, leaving primary care underfunded.

He called on Nigeria’s governors to reverse this trend and ensure that primary healthcare facilities are equipped and staffed to handle the population’s basic needs.

“Primary care is the first—and sometimes the only—point of contact most patients have with the health system,” Gates stressed.

He urged leaders to strengthen digital systems and use data to plan effectively, citing Gombe state’s successful biometric attendance system, which eliminated ghost workers and saved N1.3 billion naira.

Beyond nutrition, Gates also called for greater investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to address the root causes of food insecurity.

He pointed to the need for more funding for agricultural extension workers, better infrastructure, and the adoption of innovative crop varieties more resistant to pests and climate change.

“Nigeria may be the world’s largest producer of cassava, but demand still outstrips supply,” Gates remarked. “By embracing new, more resilient crop varieties, Nigeria can feed its people and strengthen its economy.”

Gates reaffirmed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s commitment to partnering with Nigeria, stressing that the government must address these critical issues.

“Malnutrition and food insecurity are solvable problems,” Gates said. “With smart investments and strong partnerships, Nigeria’s leaders can lay the groundwork for a healthier, more prosperous future.”

“I’m an optimist by nature,” Gates said, “but I’m also a realist. Turning things around won’t be easy. But by putting the Nigerian people first, Nigeria’s leaders can build a better future.”

Gates reiterated his belief in Nigeria’s potential and urged its leaders to stay the course.

 

How Nigeria can tackle food insecurity, malnutrition – Bill Gates

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Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has described President Bola Tinubu as an epitome of wealth with no interest to loot Nigeria’s resources.

Olawande stated this while speaking at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch in Abuja.

The minister also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the president, noting that in no distant time there will be positive changes.

He said, “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of the citizens will be transformed.

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“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper; he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria.”

Olawande continued, “He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury.”

He emphasized that the administration is putting in efforts to transform the lives of Nigerians through various policies of the federal government.

Olawande thanked the staff of the ministry for being supportive of the government policies and assured them that their welfare will not be compromised.

Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

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BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

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BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased to 32.15% in August 2024 down from the 33.40% recorded in July 2024, reflecting a decrease of 1.25 percentage points.

This represents the second consecutive monthly slowdown in inflation after easing in the previous month.

This is according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

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However, on a year-on-year basis, the August 2024 inflation rate was 6.35 percentage points higher than the 25.80% rate recorded in August 2023, indicating a significant increase over the past year.

On a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in August 2024 stood at 2.22%, slightly lower than July’s rate of 2.28%, signaling a slower pace in the increase of the average price level compared to the previous month.

BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

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Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

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Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested six young men in a hotel located in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Benin City with fake letterheads, stamps, and forged signatures belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its chieftains.

The young men, who were apprehended with incriminating materials such as printers, mobile phones, power banks, laptops, and a photocopy machine, are believed to have been involved in drafting and circulating fake PDP letters and statements.

Their objective was to paint the PDP as instigators of unrest ahead of the forthcoming Edo governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

The arrest, which was made following a tip-off, uncovered an elaborate scheme allegedly designed to discredit the PDP and its leaders by sending fabricated documents to unsuspecting journalists.

These fake letters and statements, according to police sources, were intended to portray the party as warmongers and troublemakers in the run-up to the critical election.

A police officer involved in the operation, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that the suspects had been using the hotel as their base of operations for weeks.

“We found that these individuals were using forged PDP letterheads, stamps, and signatures to create fake documents.

“Their goal was to send out these documents to journalists in an attempt to misrepresent the PDP and create an atmosphere of tension ahead of the elections,” the officer said.

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In addition to the counterfeit materials, the police discovered that the young men had several technological devices, including laptops and printers, which they used to produce and disseminate the fraudulent documents.

“Their setup was sophisticated. They had everything they needed to make the documents appear legitimate, from forged letterheads to printers.

“We also found power banks, mobile phones, and a photocopy machine, which they used to mass-produce the fake letters,” the officer added.

Further investigation has revealed that the six young men were funded by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Meanwhile, another police source disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command, has come under intense pressure from senior APC figures, who are reportedly pushing for the release of the arrested men.

“Since the arrest, there has been immense pressure on us from certain chieftains within the APC, urging the command to release these individuals.

“We believe that their involvement with these young men is being covered up, and they are worried about the potential fallout from this arrest,” the source noted.

A journalist with one of the prominent national newspapers, who had been unknowingly receiving fake statements from the group, expressed shock upon hearing about the arrests.

“It’s alarming to think that we’ve been receiving statements from people who were impersonating the PDP. This shows how low some people will go to try and sabotage the other party. The integrity of this election is now under serious question,” the journalist stated.

The Edo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but sources within the command say investigations are ongoing, and the suspects remain in custody.

Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

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