Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday, received members of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in his office in Abuja, Igbere TV reports.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is an American private foundation founded in 1994 as the William Gates Foundation by Bill Gates and wife, Melinda.
Re-launched in the year 2000 as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it is reported to be the largest private foundation in the world, holding $50.7 billion in assets.
Bill and Melinda Gates have been named the most generous philanthropists in the US. They have donated more than $36 billion to charitable causes, including $4.8 billion last year.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In Nigeria, it focuses on eradication of polio, hunger and extreme poverty, while donating in billions to the country.
Speaking when he received the Gates’ leadership, Gbajabiamila asked the Foundation to intensify its intervention programmes in the areas of health care delivery services and agriculture.
He said Nigeria was always desirous of collaboration with development partners that would impact positively on the socio-political and economic development of the country.
The Speaker said Nigeria’s collaboration with Bill Gates Foundation became imperative as the country marched toward the diversification of its economy and improved healthcare service delivery to the people.
Igbere TV reports that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s delegation was led by its President, Global Development, Mr Chris Elias.
Announcing the visit in a tweet sighted by Igbere TV, the Office of the Speaker on its official Twitter handle (@NGRSpeaker), wrote;
“Speaker @femigbaja and the leadership of the @HouseNGR in a meeting with the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation.
“The Speaker asked the foundation to intensify its intervention programmes in the areas of health care delivery services and agriculture.”
