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In what many critics have termed a bold and transformative pledge, Microsoft co-founder and global philanthropist Bill Gates has announced plans to dedicate the majority of his estimated $200 billion fortune to improving health and education systems across Africa.

The announcement was made during his keynote address at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, where Gates outlined a 20-year vision aimed at harnessing the continent’s vast human potential.

The 69-year-old billionaire emphasized that sustainable development must be rooted in strengthening human capital.

He also issued a challenge to Africa’s next generation of thinkers and entrepreneurs to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved regions.

Gates’ pledge is part of a larger philanthropic mission that will culminate in giving away 99% of his wealth by 2045. He recently wrote in a blog post that while people might remember many things about his life, he is determined that “he died rich” won’t be one of them.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which Gates co-founded with his then-wife Melinda French Gates in 2000, has already disbursed more than $100 billion toward global health, agriculture, and education initiatives.

The foundation has been instrumental in funding programs for malaria prevention, HIV treatment, and education reform across the Global South, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gates’ commitment arrives at a pivotal time. Across Africa, fragile healthcare systems are still reeling from the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and youth unemployment continues to climb in many nations. Moreover, cuts to international aid, especially by the United States under former President Donald Trump’s administration, have raised concerns about the sustainability of critical programs.

Graça Machel, former First Lady of Mozambique and a prominent advocate for women and children’s rights, welcomed Gates’ announcement.