Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, drew national and international attention on Wednesday during the Gates Foundation’s “Goalkeepers: Africa in Motion” summit in Lagos, where he shared landmark strides in health, education and governance reforms in Gombe State.
The high-level event, themed “The Future of Progress: Africa in Motion,” convened African leaders, philanthropists, changemakers and innovators to showcase transformative, community-driven initiatives shaping the continent’s development.
Governor Yahaya, specially invited for his pioneering leadership in public health, joined Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, Mr. Bill Gates, on a key panel moderated by Al Jazeera’s Folly Thibault. The session explored sustainable partnerships and strategic investments in public health and development.
Responding to questions on his administration’s consistent health-sector investments amid economic pressures, the Governor said:
“People think cuts save money. But what really saves money—and lives—is spending with vision, discipline and a service mindset.”
He narrated how a visit to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital shortly after assuming office in 2019 became a turning point:
“There was no electricity, doctors used flashlights to examine patients, and people had lost trust in the system,” he said.
Governor Yahaya said his government adopted a reformist approach, transforming health facilities across the state.
“We rebuilt the Specialist Hospital with solar power, emergency and outpatient wings, and modern equipment. We also built three general hospitals and upgraded primary healthcare centres in all 114 wards,” he stated.
The Governor also revealed how biometric systems helped tackle ghost workers and absenteeism in the sector, saving over N2.8 billion, which was redirected to recruit and train health workers.
He noted significant improvements:
“Today, immunisation coverage is around 50 percent, access to primary healthcare is up to 45 percent, and maternal and child mortality have declined. Most importantly, trust is returning.”
Asked why he, a finance expert, focused heavily on health, the Governor said:
“Leadership isn’t about background; it’s about meeting the people’s needs. You can’t teach a child who’s sick. You can’t grow an economy when citizens fear falling ill.”
He praised the Gates Foundation’s partnership approach:
“They didn’t come with a lecture. They came with a question: ‘Where are you going?’ They listened and backed what we were already fighting to fix.”
Governor Yahaya encouraged other leaders to work with vision and open arms:
“We didn’t wait to be rescued. But we also didn’t go it alone. We had a plan, and we invited the right partners to walk with us.”
In his remarks, Mr. Bill Gates described Gombe State as a model for impactful governance in health delivery.
“Gombe is an exemplar of bold healthcare reform,” Gates said, commending Governor Yahaya for his courage and results-oriented leadership.
He also reiterated his foundation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s health sector in the coming decades.
Governor Yahaya had earlier held a closed-door meeting with Mr. Gates, alongside Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governors of Jigawa and Kaduna States, and Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, ahead of the summit.
