Imprisoned for almost three decades for his fight against white minority rule, Mandela played a pivotal role, while in prison and when he was finally released in 1990, in bringing Black South Africans into political power.
Advertisement
Africa’s future rests in the hands of its youth – and every effort must be made to ensure they thrive, philanthropist and entrepreneur Bill Gates said in South Africa today (EDITORS: SUNDAY, 17 July 2016).
This can be seen in the fact that young people tend to be better at driving innovation, he adds, and this needs to be nurtured.
He said South Africa had some of the best universities in Africa but noted that maintaining the quality of the country’s higher education system while expanding access to more students will not be easy.
He says that “this is all part of the Mandela Day”.
The same year as the rugby World Cup he established the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
Gates says healthcare can improve Africa’s situation economically and in education.
“I agree with Mandela about young people’ and that is one reason I am optimistic about the future of this continent”.
“If young people are sick and malnourished, their bodies and their brains will never fully develop”, he said.
Gates drew his personal example of starting Microsoft at the age of 19 that helped him grow his wealth to over $77 billion, and other American tech entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg who started young, as what African youth can achieve if given an opportunities, Forbes reported.
The foundation has helped improve healthcare in Africa, including reducing AIDS/HIV, malaria, polio, pneumonia, diarrhea and malnourishment, he said.
“Healthy, educated people are eager to make their way in the world but Africa’s youth must have economic opportunity to channel their energy into progress”, he said.
Advertisement
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has already invested $9-billion in healthcare on the continent.
