The CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman, has said that eradicating poverty and malaria in Nigeria will require years of sustained effort. Despite recent gains in healthcare, he stressed that the country’s size and economic realities mean progress will be gradual.
Suzman made the remarks in New York on Tuesday during an interview with TheCable ahead of the Foundation’s annual Goalkeepers event. He acknowledged Nigeria’s many challenges but commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for taking bold steps in healthcare reform.
Nigeria’s Role in Global Health and Poverty Statistics
According to Suzman, Nigeria’s population makes it central to both global and Africa-wide health outcomes. He noted that the country currently has the highest number of people living on less than $2 a day. Beyond poverty, Nigeria also faces high malaria incidence and a large number of unvaccinated children.
“Despite these challenges, Nigeria has made important progress,” Suzman said. He pointed to vaccination drives and malaria campaigns supported by Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate, whom he described as a “longstanding partner” of the Foundation.
Building Human Capital Through Health and Education
The Gates Foundation works with several countries across South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa to help increase domestic resource mobilization. The goal is to maximize investments in health and education, which Suzman called “human capital investments.”
He emphasized that the Foundation’s work in Nigeria aligns with the government’s national priorities, particularly in vaccination and malaria prevention. However, he cautioned that poverty and disease burdens are so large that meaningful progress will require a multiyear commitment.
Why Health Investments Boost Long-Term Economic Growth
When asked how malaria prevention impacts Nigeria’s economy, Suzman explained that the benefits are long-term rather than immediate.
“Reducing malaria doesn’t instantly boost GDP,” he said. “But when children grow up healthy, vaccinated, and well-nourished, they form a stronger workforce in the future. The economic returns will be seen when those children reach adulthood.”
He added that while healthcare investments deliver strong economic payoffs, they often clash with short-term political cycles that focus on immediate results.
Nigeria’s Fiscal Pressures and Path Forward
Suzman also noted that Nigeria faces significant fiscal challenges as it works to diversify its revenue base. While the government is making progress in raising non-oil tax revenues, he said the process remains difficult.
“Diversifying revenue is essential,” he remarked, “but Nigeria is still under heavy fiscal pressure. Addressing poverty and healthcare will require both domestic reforms and long-term international partnerships.”
