Governor Inuwa Yahaya Earns Global Praise from Bill Gates at Goalkeepers Africa Summit in Lagos
Gombe State Lauded as Model for Healthcare Reform in Africa
June 5, 2025 | Lagos, Nigeria
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, took center stage at the Goalkeepers: Africa in Motion summit hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Lagos, earning global recognition for his transformative leadership in healthcare and governance.
The event, themed “The Future of Progress: Africa in Motion,” gathered world leaders, philanthropists, innovators, and changemakers to highlight African-led solutions to the continent’s development challenges.
Governor Yahaya, specially invited for his outstanding governance record, joined Bill Gates on a panel moderated by Al Jazeera’s Folly Thibault. The session explored how strategic investments and effective partnerships can accelerate progress—especially in healthcare.
“Spending with Vision Saves Lives”
Governor Yahaya recounted his administration’s early decision to prioritize healthcare, describing his first-hand experience visiting a near-defunct state hospital:
“There was no electricity. Doctors were using flashlights to examine patients. People avoided care because they had lost faith in the system.”
Determined to rebuild trust and deliver impact, the Governor declared a state of emergency in the health sector and initiated sweeping reforms. These included:
- Complete renovation of Gombe State Specialist Hospital
- Construction of three new general hospitals
- Rehabilitation of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in all 114 wards
- Expansion of the State Health Insurance Scheme to over 240,000 enrollees
“People think cuts save money. But what really saves money — and lives — is spending with vision, discipline, and a service mindset.”
Results That Speak for Themselves
Under his leadership, Gombe has seen tangible health outcomes:
- Immunization coverage now exceeds 50%
- Access to primary healthcare has increased to 40–45%
- Maternal and child mortality rates have significantly declined
- Infrastructure and staffing have seen massive upgrades
In tackling systemic challenges, Governor Yahaya introduced biometric attendance systems that helped:
- Eliminate ghost workers
- Flag habitual absentees
- Save ₦2.8 billion, redirected to healthcare recruitment and training
“We’re now linking staff attendance to service delivery. It’s about accountability.”
Partnership with Purpose
Governor Yahaya praised the Gates Foundation for its respectful, collaborative model:
“They didn’t come with a lecture. They came with a question: ‘Where are you going?’ They listened. They backed what we were already fighting to fix.”
He encouraged leaders across Africa to embrace purposeful spending, data-driven reforms, and strategic partnerships that amplify local efforts.
Bill Gates Applauds Gombe's Example
In his remarks, Bill Gates lauded Gombe as a “model of bold healthcare reform” and praised Governor Yahaya for leading with courage and clarity of purpose.
“Gombe is an exemplar of impactful governance. This is the kind of leadership Africa needs,” Gates said.
He reiterated his commitment to deepening investments in Nigeria’s health sector over the next two decades.
High-Level Engagements
Governor Yahaya also joined Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, deputy governors from Jigawa and Kaduna, and Health Minister Professor Muhammad Ali Pate in a private audience with Bill Gates ahead of the summit’s official proceedings.
Leading with Vision, Serving with Impact
“Leadership is not about chasing recognition. It’s about building a society where people no longer wake up fearing the same suffering they knew yesterday,” Governor Yahaya concluded.
“In Gombe, we didn’t wait to be rescued. But we didn’t try to go it alone either. We had a plan, and we invited the right partners to walk with us.”
End