Two of the world’s richest men, Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Monday.
Dangote, Africa’s richest person and the founder of the Dangote Group, and Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are both friends and partners in various philanthropic initiatives in Nigeria and Africa.
According to Dangote, who spoke to journalists after a closed-door meeting with the president on Friday, the purpose of their visit was to discuss issues of national and continental interest with Tinubu.
“I did not come to do much. I only came to inform the President about our visit with Microsoft co-founder and my friend Bill Gates. We will both see the President on Monday when we come together,” Dangote said.
The details of their meeting with Tinubu on Monday were not disclosed to the public, but it is believed that they touched on topics such as security, health, education, agriculture, and economic development.
The visit came ahead of Tinubu’s trip to Paris, France on Thursday, June 22, where he will attend a summit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at Palais Brongniart.
The summit will bring together world leaders to review and sign a new global financial pact that places vulnerable countries on the priority list for support and investment, following the devastating impact of climate change, energy crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tinubu’s trip was confirmed by his special adviser on special duties, communication, and strategy, Dele Alake, in a statement on Monday.
The statement said that Tinubu will join other leaders to “chart a new course for global financial architecture that will be responsive to the needs of developing countries.”
The statement also said that Tinubu will use the opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s achievements and potentials to the international community.
“Tinubu will also highlight Nigeria’s efforts in combating insecurity, terrorism, corruption, and poverty. He will also seek more collaboration and partnership with France and other countries in various sectors such as trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, education, health, and culture,” the statement added.
