Three billionaires discuss how Family Planning will play a role in Africa’s future.
Bill Gates meet with two of Africa’s richest men, Aliko Dangote and Mo Ibrahim. On the agenda was the discussion about family planning and its role in the future of Africa. Africa can reach her potential in the coming years. The meeting was held on Monday at the Africa Center in Harlem, New York.
Africa has a fast expanding population which requires policy makers to create jobs in order to keep up with the population growth. A larger population calls for increased food production. The event attended by the three billionaires discussed a variety of issues.
The billionaires explored the issue of family planning and said that this is an issue which can be used to achieve sustainable cities and families.
By 2015 Africa’s population is estimated to reach 2.4 billion people according to the United Nations. This population will be two times that of 2016.
Currently, there are high unemployment rates in Africa. This is especially the case for the youths in the continent.
The billionaires largely agreed that it is important for the continent to get the issue of family planning right.
Bill Gates noted that one of the best ways to approach in controlling population in Africa is through making education and healthcare more accessible to the masses.
Bill Gates, Aliko Dangote and Mo Ibrahim called upon Africans to embrace family planning methods such as contraceptives and many other challenges will sort themselves out.
Mo Ibrahim expressed his believes that violence and fundamentalism experienced in Africa is as a result of high population growth which has out-paced employment opportunities.
“If you have two kids, you can educate them. But if you have seven to eight kids and no jobs, you have Boko Haram,” said Mohammed Ibrahim.
Mohamed Ibrahim was referring to the terrorist organization operating in Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad.
In parts of Africa where there is a practice for families to have large families because when one has many children, it means there are many hands to assist in the farm. In this areas, a small number of doctors and nurses. When people’s economic status improve, women tend to bear fewer children.
Aliko Dangote through his Aliko Dangote Foundation pledged to give $20 million towards completing the Africa Center – this is a museum on Fifth Avenue along the 109th Street in Harlem. The place will be renamed as Africa Center, Aliko Dangote Hall.
Bill and Melinda Gates also pledged $5 million grant towards the Africa Center. Mohamed Ibrahim via his Ibrahim Family Foundation donated $7 million to the Africa Center.
Aliko Dangote reported that he has not yet signed on The Giving Pledge whereby the billionaires are required to give away 50% of their wealth to charity. Dangote mentioned that he has not signed because Islamic law doesn’t allow giving always more than 1/3 of one’s wealth.
Mo Ibrahim sought clarity from Muhammadu Sanusi II – who is the 14th Emir of Kano. Sanusi is a religious leader in Nigeria and was part of the audience.
Muhammadu Sanusi differed with Aliko Dangote by stating his statement was not true because Islamic law does not have any barriers when it comes to sharing of wealth with charity. He stated that Islamic law allows Muslims to share even 100 of their wealth with charitable causes. He added that a Muslim can give away 100% of his wealth when s/he is alive. However, a Muslim’s will can’t designate more than 1/8 of his wealth to people outside their families.
The audience was excited by the fact that Aliko Dangote stood corrected.
