The Co – Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , Mr . Bill Gates , again on Monday criticised the Federal Government ’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan .
Gates , in an interview with the CNN , said that the Federal Government ’s investment in education and health was not good enough .
“ While it may be easier to be polite , it ’s more important to face facts so that you can make progress ,” the philanthropist told a room of Nigeria ’s government elite that included the President .
In an exclusive television interview with the CNN , Gates said he spoke out to implore Nigerian politicians to focus on human capital and its large youth population.
“ The current quality and quantity of investment in this young generation in health and education just isn ’t good enough . So , I was very direct ,” he told
CNN .
The philanthropist had at a special session of the National Economic Council , on Thursday , said Nigeria would do better with strong investments in health and education , rather than concentrate on physical infrastructure to the detriment of human capital development.
He had said , “ Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth , with the fourth worst maternal mortality rate in the world ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad . One in three Nigerian children is chronically malnourished .
“ In upper middle – income countries, the average life expectancy is 75 years. In lower middle – income countries, it ’s 68; in low – income countries, it ’s 62. In Nigeria , it is lower still, just 53 years.
“ The Nigerian government ’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identifies investing in the people as one of three strategic objectives . But the execution priorities don ’t fully reflect people ’s needs , prioritising physical capital over human capital. People without roads, ports and factories can ’t flourish . And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them can ’t sustain an economy .”
But the Kaduna State Governor , Nasir el -Rufai , in an interview with State House correspondents after the NEC meeting , faulted the claim of Gates .
