Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced that the majority of his substantial fortune, which he expects to reach $200 billion (£150 billion), will be dedicated to improving health and education services in Africa over the next two decades. The 69-year-old philanthropist emphasized that “by unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity.”
Speaking at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Mr. Gates urged young African innovators to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance healthcare across the continent. “Africa largely skipped traditional banking and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that,” he stated, pointing to Rwanda’s use of AI-enabled ultrasound to identify high-risk pregnancies as an example.
Mr. Gates had announced last month his commitment to give away 99% of his vast wealth by 2045, the year his foundation plans to conclude its operations. “I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” he told his audience.
Mozambique’s former First Lady, Graça Machel, welcomed the announcement, describing it as timely during a “moment of crisis” and expressing hope for Mr. Gates’s continued commitment to transformation in Africa. This pledge comes as the US government has reduced aid to Africa, including HIV/Aids programmes, under its “America First” policy.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has a long history of operating in Africa, will concentrate on improving primary healthcare. Gates highlighted the importance of maternal and child nutrition, stating, “helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results.” He added that “ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference.”
The Foundation’s three core priorities include ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies, ensuring the next generation is free from deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions out of poverty.
Despite his philanthropic endeavours, critics of the Gates Foundation suggest it uses its charitable status to avoid tax and wields undue influence over the global health system. Mr. Gates, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and has gradually stepped back from the company, has been inspired by other philanthropists like Warren Buffett. He has publicly stated his determination that “he died rich” will not be among the things said about him after his death.
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