By Lukman Olabiyi
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has announced that Africa will receive the lion’s share of the $200 billion the Bill Gates Foundation plans to disburse over the next two decades, with a strong focus on improving health and development across the continent.
Speaking at Nelson Mandela Hall in the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on Monday, Gates emphasized Africa’s untapped potential and pressing needs, pledging to prioritize investments in primary healthcare, maternal and child nutrition, and disease prevention.
“I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years,” said Gates, who now serves as chair of the Gates Foundation. “The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa.”
Addressing an audience of African leaders, healthcare professionals, youth advocates, and development partners, Gates praised countries that are making strides in healthcare innovation and delivery, citing Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia as examples of bold leadership and progress.
On Sunday, Gates was awarded Ethiopia’s highest state honor by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in recognition of the foundation’s 25 years of impactful work across various development sectors in the country.
During his keynote address, Gates repeatedly stressed the importance of primary healthcare as the backbone of sustainable development.
“Investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing. Helping mothers stay healthy and ensuring children get proper nutrition in the first four years of life can break cycles of poverty and disease,”he noted.
The philanthropist also highlighted the growing role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in transforming African healthcare and governance.
He pointed to Rwanda’s use of AI-powered ultrasound tools to detect high-risk pregnancies, and encouraged broader adoption of similar innovations across the continent.
“Young people in Africa are already thinking about how AI can solve the problems they care about. We’ve seen what mobile banking has achieved here, now imagine that same transformative power applied to health and governance,”Gates said.
As part of his ongoing visit, Gates is expected to meet with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu later this week and participate in the “Goalkeepers Nigeria” event, where discussions will focus on scaling innovation, primary healthcare reforms, and Nigeria’s national AI strategy.
In May, the Gates Foundation announced its $200 billion commitment to global health and development over the next 20 years, with the aim of ending preventable maternal and child deaths, eliminating deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions out of poverty. Africa remains a central focus of that mission.
Since opening its first African office in Ethiopia 13 years ago, the Gates Foundation has expanded operations to Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal. Through strategic partnerships, including with Gavi and the Global Fund, the foundation has helped support over 100 innovations and contributed to saving more than 80 million lives.
Following his address, Gates joined a fireside chat with Dr. Paulin Basinga, the Gates Foundation’s Africa director, to discuss how governments can collaborate more effectively with local innovators to solve complex challenges.
The event also featured remarks from World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, both of whom commended African governments for their leadership and resilience in driving public health progress.
“Africa’s achievements in health are a result of strong government leadership, resilient communities, and partnerships that deliver real results,” said Okonjo-Iweala.
The Gates Foundation’s renewed commitment signals a major boost for Africa’s health systems and sustainable development efforts in the decades to come.