Bill Gates highlighted that Nigeria’s low healthcare funding is a significant factor behind the country’s position as having the second highest maternal and child mortality rates worldwide.
The billionaire philanthropist expressed concern over Nigeria’s inadequate investment in health during a media roundtable in Lagos, ahead of the Gates Foundation’s first-ever Goalkeepers event in Nigeria. He noted, “The amount of money Nigeria spends on healthcare is very, very small. So, it’s no surprise that maternal mortality rates haven’t declined. When mothers deliver at home, complications arise that can’t be properly managed.”
Gates contrasted Nigeria’s situation with countries like India, where deliveries often take place in healthcare centers capable of performing C-sections—something that requires significant funding. In northern Nigeria, about half of births still occur at home, and many health centers lack the capacity for such emergency procedures, contributing to high maternal mortality.
Despite repeated commitments, Nigeria’s health budget remains below the Abuja Declaration target of 15% of total government spending. For 2024, the health sector received ₦1.23 trillion—around 5.46% of the total budget—which, while slightly more in absolute terms than 2023, actually represented a decrease as a percentage of the total budget. The 2025 health allocation increased to ₦2.48 trillion but still accounted for just 5.18% of the ₦47.9 trillion budget. Much of these funds target expanding health insurance and strengthening primary care through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Gates warned that Nigeria’s health financing faces further pressure due to cuts in U.S. foreign aid, a result of policy shifts such as the “America First” agenda. These reductions affect critical services including immunization, maternal health, HIV care, and disease surveillance.
The impact of low funding is clear: Nigeria accounts for one in seven maternal deaths globally, with over 50,000 women dying annually. According to a 2023 report, Nigeria has the second highest number of maternal and child deaths worldwide, after India. In 2020, India recorded about 788 maternal and child deaths per thousand live births, while Nigeria’s rate was about 540 per thousand.
In response, the Gates Foundation supports innovative, cost-effective tools to improve maternal and child health outcomes. These include low-cost ultrasound devices to detect high-risk pregnancies, affordable kits to manage bleeding after childbirth, and micronutrient supplements for pregnant women. Some recent clinical trials have demonstrated striking success in reducing anemia and postpartum hemorrhage.
Despite global challenges, Gates reaffirmed his foundation’s commitment to advancing health innovations in Nigeria and beyond. To date, the foundation has invested over $2.8 billion in Nigeria—Africa’s largest single-country investment—supporting polio eradication, immunization, malaria control, and maternal and child health programs.
On Tuesday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu honored Bill Gates with the country’s second-highest national award, the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), recognizing his significant contributions to Nigeria’s development.
