June 23rd 2023.
Bill Gates was recently in Nigeria, speaking with students and young leaders at the “Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation” summit. While there, he took the time to shout out the country’s dominance in popular music, praising Afrobeats for its amazing creativity and popularity around the world.
The Microsoft co-founder has a 20-year-old daughter named Pheobe, who is apparently a big fan of Afrobeats stars like Davido and Wizkid, as well as Burna Boy and Rema. When Gates told her he was visiting Nigeria, she was reportedly “jealous” that he would get to meet them.
“When my daughter Phoebe heard I was coming to Nigeria, she said, ‘You’re lucky to go see Burna Boy and Rema.’ So, I had to look them up… because I’m so ‘hip,’” Gates said jokingly. “But I also remember, the last time I was here, I did get to see Davido and Wizkid perform and I was quite impressed with that. So, my kids think I’ve come to a very hip place.”
Gates’s visit to Nigeria wasn’t just about celebrating Afrobeats however. He also spoke about his experience with technology and encouraged Nigerian students to pursue careers in health, education, and finance.
“You have the incredible potential to drive this country forward,” Gates said.
The summit Gates was speaking at was co-hosted by the Co-Creation Hub Nigeria and Lagos Business School. Its purpose was to bring together scholars and industry leaders to discuss how science and innovation can bring positive change and contribute to Africa’s future.
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