Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has called on Nigerians to stop seeking medical treatment abroad and instead focus on building a strong local pharmaceutical industry.
He made this appeal during a panel session at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event held in Lagos on Wednesday
Dangote, who emphasised the importance of healthcare access for all citizens, said, “What we need to do is to make sure we stop this health tourism and we should now get in to start producing our own drugs. We should now make sure that when we are sick, we don’t have to travel abroad, all of us, but we need to do a partnership with Bill (Gates).”
He noted that a robust local pharmaceutical sector would not only reduce reliance on foreign healthcare but also ensure that quality treatment is available to every Nigerian, regardless of class.
He recalled that the Dangote Foundation, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, had played a pivotal role in eradicating polio and improving nutrition in Nigeria.
Dangote also used the platform to highlight his achievements in other sectors, citing the transformation of Nigeria from one of the largest cement importers to a top exporter in Africa.
He added that his fertilizer plant, now the second-largest globally, exports 37% of its production to the U.S.
On petroleum, he revealed that the Dangote Refinery exported 400,000 metric tons of petrol in May 2025 alone, stating, “Nigeria no longer imports petrol,” a move he said has reshaped the nation’s energy independence.
The Goalkeepers event convened global leaders, including Bill Gates and Governors Sanwo-Olu and Inuwa Yahaya, to review progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
via: Information Nigeria
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