Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with seven North’s governors to eradicate polio and other diseases.
The governors of Kaduna, Sokoto, Yobe and Borno entered into the agreement for the first time, while Kano and Bauchi governors had partnered Gates and Dangote under the auspices of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Dangote Foundation.
Speaking at the event attended by six governors; United States Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai Elkanemi; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, among others, Gates said his foundation was committed to polio eradication.
He said the foundation, in partnership with the Dangote Foundation and Kano as well as Bauchi states, had achieved results.
Entwistle said the U.S. government would support both foundations to end vaccine-preventable child deaths.
He said under the partnership, they would help Sokoto State to increase and sustain high immunisation coverage.
The envoy hailed the state governments, saying: “This occasion demonstrates the willingness and commitment of your governments and organisations to tackle the challenges to achieve these goals.”
Dangote urged the Federal Government to work with the states to provide routine, new vaccines and other items.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai said although immunising a child should be simple, across the country, the health system was not invested with the capacity to provide routine services at a high standard.
He, however, hoped the partnership would reverse the trend.
El-Rufai thanked Gates and Dangote for the partnership extended to the states.
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