Bill Gates, Dangote meet northern govs on immunisation

Bill Gates, world richest man and Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s richest man, met Aminu Tambuwal, Nasir el-Rufai and four other northern governors in Kaduna on Wednesday, to promote immunisation in Nigeria.

Gates, who was instrumental to Nigeria’s removal from the list of polio endemic countries, is currently in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the governors.

Also present at the meeting were Ibrahim Geidam, governor of the Yobe state; Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state and Jubrilla Bindow, Adamawa state governor.

Saad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto; Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano and other traditional rulers were present at the event to crave support for an expanded routine immunisation programme.

Dangote group had earlier said it would be with Gates in Kaduna to sign the MOU on immunisation.

“Today, we would be signing Routine Immunization MOUs with Borno, Yobe, Kaduna and Sokoto states with Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and USAID,” the group said.

Jean Gough, UNICEF country director, appreciated Dangote, Bill and Mellinda Foundation for investing in children in Nigeria.

Dangote and Gates, who were recently listed as part of the 62 people richer than half of the world, are billed to see President Muhammadu Buhari later in the day.

In December, Dangote was appointed by Buhari to lead a committee of eminent Nigerians in rebuilding northeast Nigeria, which had hitherto been attacked by Boko Haram.