Posted by Daily Trust (Abuja) on
American multi-billionaire and Microsoft icon, Mr. Bill Gates, on Saturday conferred with President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Otta farm in Ogun state.
American multi-billionaire and Microsoft icon, Mr. Bill Gates, on Saturday conferred with President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Otta farm in Ogun state.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Senior Special Assistant (Media), to the President, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, said Obasanjo briefed Gates who was accompanied by his wife, Belinda, on the Nigerian economy.
She said Obasanjo spoke of his administration's achievements in the agricultural subsector, especially the efforts to achieve food security for the country.
According to her, Gates assured the president that the Bill and Belinda Foundation, founded by him and his wife, would give more assistance to Nigeria in the fight against poverty and diseases.
Oyo quoted Gates as saying that the Foundation will help the country to fight tuberculosis, polio and HIV/AIDS.
He also pledged continuous assistance for ongoing research to find a cure for the deadly HIV virus.
During their two-day visit, the Gates would, under the auspices of their Foundation, monitor the progress Nigeria has made in the fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Obasanjo has a long-standing relationship with Gates, who has in recent times, shown tremendous interest in Africa and made funds available for the fight against poverty and diseases on the continent.