Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has opened the new office in Nigeria, NewsSpecng learnt.
This is as the foundation said it has invested approximately $1 billion (N461b) dollars in various intervention programmes in the last 10 years in Nigeria.
The foundation also said it is not thinking of leaving Nigeria anytime soon.
Chris Elias, President, Global Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation made the disclosures at the opening of its new office in Abuja.
Elias said the opening of a bigger office in Nigeria is a confirmation that the foundation is in Nigeria to stay and to work for the general good of the people.
He said, “Over the last decade, the BMGF has invested approximately about $1 billion in Nigeria programmes.”
On how long the foundation is going to stay in Nigeria, Ellas said, “We don’t have any end date for our plans to be in Nigeria since the beginning of our work in health and agriculture, because Nigeria is such an important part of the African continent’s future.
“And so we will continue to work here in Nigeria with our broad range of partners for the definite future.”
He further added, “We’re continuing to advance the programmes we’ve been working on for a long time
Agricultural development, Financial services for the poor are very important work and improving immunisation, which helped to achieve the remarkable goal of eradicating polio from Nigeria six years ago, as well as our work in nutrition and a broad range of other health issues.
“So this launch is very important. You know, we’ve been working in Nigeria for almost 10 years. And having this new office is really an opportunity to bring all of our staff, our growing staff as well as our partners into a beautiful space where we can continue our work to improve the lives of all Nigerians”.
