“When I started my foundation in 1994, I never realised we had this massive challenge in the health sector.
“Really, it was mind-boggling when we had an agreement to collaborate with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and that really opened my eyes to realise that there are a lot of challenges in health sector.
“At that time I didn’t have the opportunity of meeting Bill but meeting Bill changed me into a different person. This is somebody that has nothing to do with us in Africa or Nigeria but he is putting his money and his soul into everything.
“He is very committed to helping humanity and that really surprises me a lot and I realised that he is a simple person. I never knew Bill would be this simple. He is a very soft-spoken guy and kind-hearted.
“It is very difficult to find people like Bill in this world. Bill, we are very grateful and I can assure you that with my association with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, my only prayer is that in the next few years, I will try and give my chunk of wealth to charity.”
■ Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, recounting his experiences after meeting billionaire philanthropist, Bill Gates. Dangote stated this during the 2019 Goalkeepers’ event hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in New York.
Idowu Sowunmi
