Dangote, Gates Foundations Earmark $100million To Address Malnutrition In Nigeria

The Dangote Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a combined financial donation of $100 million between 2016-2020 towards ending malnutrition in Nigeria.

This commitment is expected to improve the lives of at least five million families by 2020.

Chairman of Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote, who spoke at the official signing of the commitment with Co-chair Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, noted that tackling malnutrition in children has been identified as critical in reducing infant mortality.

The business tycoon said Nigeria had the second highest level of acute malnutrition at 18 per cent, globally as well as 37 per cent of chronic malnutrition rate, also second highest globally.

“Acutely malnourished children often fall very ill and die, and at least half of all children under the age of five years that die in Nigeria do so as a result of underlying or overt malnutrition.”

Both foundations said they will begin a joint planning process to determine the details of the partnership.

Programs will include community-based approaches and proven interventions linked to behavioural change, fortification of staple foods with essential micro-nutrients, the community management of acute malnutrition and investments in the local production of nutritious foods.