The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $600,000 to support flood victims in Borno State, Nigeria and boost health and agriculture initiatives in Nigeria .
This generous donation was announced during a meeting with Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu, “To hasten relief efforts for victims of the devastating floods, as well as for health and agricultural sectors’ reforms, the Nigerian government has secured a $600,000 relief fund and commitments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation”
The meeting, led by Christopher Elias, Head of Global Development Programme at the Foundation, also secured an additional $5 million grant for Lagos Business School to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava. This support is crucial, as Nigeria has faced severe humanitarian crises due to flooding in recent years, affecting at least 13 states and displacing numerous communities .
The floods have been caused by heavy rainfall, dam bursts, regulatory failures, and inadequate early warning systems . The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s contribution will provide vital relief to those affected and support Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its health and agricultural sectors.
Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has been severely affected by the recent floods, resulting in the loss of at least 37 lives and displacement of over 400,000 people. The collapse of the Alau dam due to heavy rainfall led to more than half of the city being submerged in water. Residents have reported that the actual death toll may be higher, as some deaths have not been documented.
The devastating flood has destroyed homes, major infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and expansive farmlands around river banks, particularly in the Fori, Gwange, and Gamboru areas. Many residents are seeking shelter in public schools and uncompleted buildings under dire conditions.
The health sector has also been severely impacted, with crucial medical equipment and infrastructure in both private and public hospitals destroyed. The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) sustained significant water damage, forcing it to suspend operations for two weeks.
Major flooding incidents experienced in Nigeria over the past three years have been highly catastrophic. It has killed a significant number of people, crippled businesses, destroyed homes and cultivated farms, infrastructures, schools, and hospitals. The aftermath of the flood incidents in the country has further strained the food supply chain across the nation amidst a shortfall in supply and skyrocketed food prices.
Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth & Opportunity Division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, outlined plans to boost Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He aims to scale up drought-tolerant maize production and advance the Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator program.
A $5 million grant has been approved for Lagos Business School and partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava, which Voorhies described as a “multi-billion-dollar opportunity for Nigeria.”
Additionally, Voorhies requested import permits for 5,000 metric tons of certified maize seed to establish a foundation seed system in the country.
Uche Amaonwu, Director of the Nigeria Country Office at the Gates Foundation, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership, highlighting the foundation’s $60 million investment in sector-wide programs and collaborations on reproductive health issues.