36 Governors To Convene With Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation Chief For Collaborative National Growth Initiatives

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has revealed its plans to host a pivotal meeting with Rodger Voorhies, the President of Global Growth and Opportunities at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), scheduled for November 15, 2023.

This significant gathering will take place at the NGF Secretariat in Abuja.

As per Asishana Bayo Okauru, the Director-General of NGF, this dialogue with Voorhies holds the promise of unveiling fresh opportunities for Nigerian states to engage in collaborative efforts with the Foundation.

The focus of these partnerships will encompass critical domains such as agriculture, poverty alleviation, digital financial services, education, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Voorhies, who is responsible for overseeing annual grantmaking exceeding $700 million by the Foundation, directs resources towards vital areas, including agricultural development, financial services for underserved populations, global education, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, has cordially invited all 36 Nigerian State governors to partake in this momentous meeting.

The NGF has emphasized that this gathering will serve as a platform for exploring potential partnerships aimed at elevating agricultural productivity, broadening the reach of digital financial services, enhancing childhood literacy and numeracy, and improving access to clean water and sanitation, particularly in rural communities.

Okauru further stressed that this meeting underscores the NGF’s unwavering dedication to harnessing global partnerships and resources to drive development initiatives across Nigerian states.