US multi-billionaire Bill Gates promised to assist Nigeria in fighting HIV/Aids in talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo, official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported on Sunday.
During the meeting in Obasanjo’s southwestern Ota farm on Saturday, the president discussed the state of the Nigerian economy and his government’s achievements in agriculture with Gates, who was accompanied by his wife, presidential spokesperson Oluremi Oyo told journalists, according to NAN.
Gates assured Obasanjo that the Bill and Belinda Foundation, founded by him and his wife, would give more assistance to Nigeria in the fight against poverty and disease, Oyo said.
The Foundation would help Nigeria battle tuberculosis, polio and HIV/Aids, she said.
During their two-day visit, the Gates were to monitor progress Nigeria has made in the fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty.
According to officials, more than 3.5 million Nigerians carry the HIV virus or have full-blown Aids.
Obasanjo, a former African Union chairperson, has a long-standing relationship with Gates, who had in recent times shown tremendous interest in Africa and made funds available for the fight against poverty and diseases on the continent, NAN said.
Early this year, Gates and Obasanjo were among guests at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where poverty and HIV/Aids in Africa were discussed.