Billionaire philanthropist and chair of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has reaffirmed his long-term commitment to Africa.

Mr Gates also announced that the majority of his $200 billion pledge will be invested in the continent over the next 20 years.

Mr Gates said the funds would target key areas, including primary healthcare, artificial intelligence in health systems, and youth-led innovation, according to a statement on Monday by the foundation.

Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, he addressed more than 12,000 stakeholders, including heads of state, development partners, scientists, health workers, and youth leaders.

He urged African governments to accelerate health and development through innovation and collaboration.

”I recently committed that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” Mr Gates said.

The billionaire philanthropist said that partnering with governments that prioritise citizens’ well-being would be key to achieving sustainable impact.

He lauded African countries, such as Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Zambia, for their bold leadership in transforming healthcare delivery, utilising data to reduce child mortality, and leveraging innovation to combat infectious diseases.

As part of his visit, Gates is expected to be in Nigeria and Ethiopia, where he will meet with President Bola Tinubu and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

In Nigeria, he will attend the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, which will spotlight local AI innovations and efforts to strengthen primary healthcare.

He highlighted the success of AI-enabled solutions, such as ultrasound screening in Rwanda, which detects high-risk pregnancies, describing it as a “glimpse into Africa’s promising healthcare future”.

He urged African nations to embed AI in the design of next-generation health systems, drawing comparisons to how mobile banking revolutionised the continent’s financial sector.

The event featured remarks by global leaders, including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, and Amina Mohammed, UN deputy secretary-general.

Both women praised African governments for demonstrating resilience and leadership in improving public health outcomes.

Renowned advocate for women and children, Graça Machel, called Gates’ continued investment a “beacon of hope” during a moment of global uncertainty.

”We are counting on Mr Gates’ steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us,” she said.

(NAN)