Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has pledged to donate the majority of his $200 billion fortune to revolutionize health and education across Africa, promising a 20-year plan to improve lives and empower communities. Speaking at an event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gates emphasized his vision of a future where every African nation is on a clear path toward prosperity.
“At the heart of this pledge is the belief that every human life holds potential,” Gates said. “Mothers should survive childbirth, babies should thrive past their fifth birthday, and kids should be well nourished and educated. These are basic values we all share.” He noted that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will lead this mission, deploying its resources aggressively over the next two decades.
Gates also highlighted the role of innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, in advancing solutions to global challenges. “AI holds immense promise – not just in Silicon Valley, but in transforming African agriculture, healthcare delivery, and education systems,” he said. As a technologist, he emphasized the importance of supporting science-driven strategies to create long-term impact.
Without naming names, Gates criticized recent U.S. foreign aid cuts that have disrupted vital health services in developing regions. He pointed out that sudden funding halts have left medical supplies languishing in warehouses and crucial clinical trials suspended. “These cuts are a mistake,” he warned, adding that lives are at risk. In a pointed statement to the Financial Times, Gates suggested that such decisions could harm the very people most in need, saying: “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one.”
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