By Abdul Lauya
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, received widespread acclaim at the Goalkeepers: Africa in Motion summit held in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to a press release signed by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs to the Governor, Yahaya’s performance at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation event spotlighted his healthcare reforms as a model for African development.
The summit, themed “The Future of Progress: Africa in Motion,” brought together global and African leaders including philanthropist Bill Gates and industrialist Aliko Dangote to discuss innovations in health and development.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya featured alongside Bill Gates in a panel moderated by Al Jazeera’s Folly Thibault, where the two leaders discussed strategic investments and partnerships in Africa’s health sector.
Yahaya explained that despite economic strain, his administration chose “visionary spending” over austerity to revive Gombe’s failing healthcare system.
He recalled a visit early in his tenure to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, describing grim conditions such as the absence of electricity and public mistrust in healthcare.
In response, his administration launched widespread upgrades, including new hospital buildings, solar installations, modern equipment, and the construction of three general hospitals.
The Governor highlighted the expansion of the Gombe State Health Insurance Scheme to over 240,000 enrollees and PHC upgrades in all 114 wards.
He said healthcare access in the state has grown to between 40 and 45 percent, while immunisation coverage improved to about 50 percent.
The Governor cited reduced maternal and child mortality, improved staff efficiency, and better infrastructure as indicators of success.
To tackle administrative corruption, his government introduced biometric systems, rooting out ghost workers and saving over N2.8 billion, which was redirected to staff development.
He emphasized that genuine leadership means building trust and solving problems collaboratively, noting the Gates Foundation supported Gombe’s grassroots reform vision.
Bill Gates, in his remarks, described Gombe as a “model of impactful governance,” praising Yahaya’s focus on primary healthcare and transparency.
Gates pledged to sustain health investments in Nigeria, signaling deeper engagement over the next two decades.
Governor Yahaya met privately with Gates before the event, alongside Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other top officials including Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate.
The Governor advised fellow leaders to pursue reform with courage, strategic partnerships, and a focus on rebuilding public trust.
The accolades underscored Yahaya’s growing national and international reputation as a reform-driven leader in healthcare governance.
