At the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a $5 million (approximately N8.5 billion) grant to Lagos Business School to enhance the agricultural economics of industrial cassava in Nigeria.
Additionally, the foundation pledged $600,000 (about N1 billion) for flood relief efforts in Borno State.
The donations were revealed by Dr. Christopher Elias, Head of Global Development Programme at the foundation, during a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 79th session of the UNGA.
Vice President Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to prioritizing health, nutrition, and agricultural development. He emphasized the government’s focus on tackling malnutrition and boosting food security through initiatives like the Telemaze programme for maize production.
“We recognize the critical importance of food security and industrial agricultural development. The Cassava Accelerator programme, in particular, holds immense potential for our economy,” Shettima stated, highlighting the potential of cassava to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Shettima also underscored the administration’s dedication to digitisation and the integration of data exchange systems to modernize public services, stressing that these efforts will contribute to broader transformation in the country.
Expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future, Shettima added, “With the expertise of our ministers and the continued support of partners like the Gates Foundation, we remain confident in our ability to drive meaningful change and improve the lives of all Nigerians.”
Dr. Elias, while announcing the donations, expressed concern over the severe flooding in Borno, explaining that the N1 billion pledge was aimed at accelerating relief efforts for flood victims. The N8.5 billion grant to Lagos Business School is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector, specifically cassava production, which is seen as a significant economic opportunity for the country.
Rodger Voorhies, President of the foundation’s Global Growth and Opportunity Division, described industrial cassava as a “multi-billion-dollar opportunity for Nigeria.” He also revealed that the foundation is working on scaling up drought-tolerant maize production and has requested permits to import 5,000 metric tons of certified maize seeds to establish a foundation seed system in the country.
Uche Amaonwu, Director of the Nigeria Country Office at the Gates Foundation, noted that the foundation has worked closely with the Nigerian government in various sectors, including reproductive health, with a $60 million investment to address related issues.
