Why I was 'very direct' in criticising Nigerian govt - Bill Gates

By -


American billionaire and businessman, Bill Gates, has said that his criticism of the Nigerian government’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan was to stir leaders to wake up to their responsibility and focus on human capital development.

Mr. Gates said Nigeria needs to act to save the country’s large youth population.

During his visit to Nigeria, the co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, addressed an expanded National Economic Council meeting in Abuja where he criticised the government for “prioritising physical capital over human capital” in its economic development plans.

Present at the meeting was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, state governors, and ministers.

Mr. Gates’ comments attracted a huge debate among Nigerians across all political divides, with many backing his call.

The federal government claimed Mr. Gates’ remarks was misunderstood by the media, and tried to counter the message by highlighting its effort to develop human capital.

But, in an interview with the CNN on Tuesday, Mr. Gates said his intention in criticising the country was not to be impolite, but to point out to Nigerian politicians the need to focus more on human capital development to save the horde of Nigerian youth population facing poverty and other social malaise.

“While it may be easier to be polite, it’s more important to face facts so that you can make progress,” Mr. Gates said.

Mr. Gates said he was “very direct” in his criticism of the federal government to stress the need for more to be done to raise the level of its investment in education and health.

“The current quality and quantity of investment in this young generation in health and education just isn’t good enough. So, I was very direct,” he told CNN.

In his Abuja speech, Mr. Gates faulted the decision to anchor the country’s long term economic growth on investments in infrastructure, pointing out that investments in people must go hand in hand.

“People without roads ports and factories can’t flourish. And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them can’t sustain an economy,” he argued.

Source: Premium Times

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Girl Who Escaped Opens Up: Boko Haram Rapés Us Up To 15 Times Everyday

By -
Image
As you read this, the over 200 female students abducted on April 14 from Government Girls School,Chibok, in Borno State are passing through hard times, with some of them being rapéd for as much as 15 times a day. One of the abducted girls who managed to escape made this shocking revelations. According Daily Mirror, “Families of the schoolgirls, aged between 15 to 18, are certain their daughters are now being used as séx slaves by an extreme sect that has killed 1,500 people since the start of this year alone. They are captives in the wild Sambisa Forest in north-east Nigeria where Boko Haram has a heavily armed camp of bunkers, tunnels, ramshackle buildings and tents.  “ One girl who recently escaped following an earlier kidnapping said she was prized as a terror leader’s wife because she had been a virgin . She said young female captives were raped up to 15 times a day, forced to convert to Islam and had their throats cut if they refused.” Daily Mirror said th...
Read more

Mushin Violence: Serial Killer, Others Arrested By The Police

By -
Image
Toba and Muda The Lagos State Police Command has arrested alleged serial killer, Adigun Oriyomi, aka Muda, after five months of being on the run. The command also arrested two others, including the alleged gang leader in the Fadeyi area of the state, Toba Ajiboye. PUNCH Metro had reported that Muda was arrested last year for murder and was charged to court and remanded, but was later released. After his release, Muda was said to have gone after those who wrote statements against him at the police station and was said to be involved in about four more murders, including that of a pregnant woman and her three-year-old child in the Akala area of Mushin.
Read more

HISTORY: THE STORY OF PROPHET EDWARD OKEKE (a.k.a Eddie Nogu, Okara mmadu Okara Mmuo) #BBNaija

By -
Image
E ddie "Nawgu" Okeke's alias was "Alusi N'eje Uka" this when translated to the English language means "The Diety Who Goes To Church". Prophet Edward Okeke (a.k.a Eddie Na Nogwu)was a Nigerian self-Proclaimed "Prophet of God" and Occult Practitioner. He was popularly known in the mid-1990s as "Eddy Nawgu" amongst the igbo speaking People. His nickname "Nawgu" came about because he was from the Nawgu community, a town situated in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. He was a legend in the Word of crime in Anambra State, Nigeria. he committed so many atrocities during his life time. Rumor even has it that,he 'buried alive' able bodied young men/women (human beings) inorder to do his foundation in his house and around his fence.Although he was later Killed by the Bakasi boys and his house and church were burnt down. Let us look at his Tale empirically. Early life of Edward Okeke...
Read more