Bill Gates

Global philanthropist Bill Gates, industrialist Aliko Dangote, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, and other dignitaries have called for increased investments and home-grown artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to improve healthcare in Africa.

Speaking at the Gatekeepers event organised by the Gates Foundation in Lagos on Wednesday, the stakeholders highlighted the urgent need for collaborative funding, innovative technologies, and stronger government participation to boost health outcomes across the continent.

Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, revealed that the foundation has invested about $100 billion in global health, with a significant portion channelled to Nigeria over the past 25 years.

“Over 70 per cent of what we’ve spent, the $100 billion in the last 25 years, went to global health, and throughout that time, we’ve built partnerships across Africa,” Gates said during a panel session moderated by media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

He stressed that governments must take the lead in ensuring long-term health improvements while partnerships can accelerate progress. “The government, in the long run, has the responsibility. We’re there to accelerate these systems,” he said, noting that improved healthcare can drive stronger economic outcomes.

Gates also expressed optimism about reducing global child mortality by half in the next two decades, citing AI as a key driver for change. “Artificial intelligence can help us simplify processes and bring down costs. The next 20 years are critical for African countries to reach better health outcomes,” he said.

Governor Yahaya of Gombe State outlined his administration’s efforts in strengthening the primary healthcare system. He noted that immunisation coverage had improved to around 50 per percent, and access to primary care now stands between 40 and 45 per cent.

Yahaya credited the progress to the adoption of biometric technology for monitoring health worker attendance. “Absenteeism has significantly declined, and staff motivation is up. We are now seeing better maternal and child health outcomes,” he added.

Other attendees included Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, top government officials, and healthcare advocates. The forum called for stronger political will, local tech innovation, and sustained international support to transform Africa’s health landscape.