“The amazing thing about Africa, and I show people this slide all the time, is that it is a very young continent. The portion of children born in Africa is going to be over half during this century.” – Bill Gates
Bill Gates has described Africa as the “most interesting continent” of this century, citing its youthful population and potential for growth.
Speaking at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event in Lagos, the Microsoft co-founder said, “The amazing thing about Africa, and I show people this slide all the time, is that it is a very young continent. The portion of children born in Africa is going to be over half during this century.”
He added that cities like Lagos could soon become the largest in the world. “That’ll be interesting and keep things vibrant,” Gates said.
He stressed that Africa’s future depends on investments made now. “How much that youth can drive progress will depend on the investment decisions we make in the next 20 years, in their health and their education,” he said.
Business magnate Aliko Dangote also highlighted progress in local industries. “Nigeria now exports cement more than any other African country,” he said, adding that 37% of Nigeria’s fertilizers are exported to the U.S.
Gates believes Africa’s economic momentum will rise significantly in the next two decades.