08/10/2025
Bill Gates Commends Gombe’s Healthcare Reforms, Pledges Continued Support
The Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth) has received high commendation from American philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, for its innovative leadership and data-driven reforms in improving health service delivery across the state.
In a letter addressed to Dr. Abubakar Musa, Executive Secretary of GoHealth, and Dr. Ismail Jibrin, Chief Executive Officer of Human Capital Managers Nigeria Limited, the billionaire philanthropist praised Gombe’s “problem-solving mindset” and “commitment to achieving results,” following a recent meeting with the officials in Abuja.
“I was impressed by Gombe’s problem-solving mindset and commitment to achieving results. It is inspiring to see how the reforms began with thoughtful stakeholder engagement and then scaled through strong technical ex*****on and governance,” Gates wrote.
He particularly highlighted the Human Resource for Health (HRH) Biometric Attendance Platform as a “compelling example of a state-led initiative to improve data availability for decision-making and optimize resources.”
The HRH platform, developed by Human Capital Managers, is a digital system designed to track health worker attendance, enhance accountability, and ensure that healthcare personnel are effectively deployed across the state.
The endorsement from Gates marks a significant recognition of Gombe’s growing reputation as a model for subnational health system reform in Nigeria.
This commendation could open new doors for technical and financial partnerships between the Gombe State Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, particularly in areas such as data-driven health management, maternal and child health, and primary healthcare financing.
Since its establishment, GoHealth has been at the forefront of Gombe’s health reform drive, introducing contributory health schemes aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Under Dr. Musa’s leadership, the agency has launched innovative programmes to expand healthcare access for both formal and informal sector workers.
In his reaction to the letter, Dr. Musa showed appreciation for the commendation as he noted the commendation is a testament to Gombe state’s journey towards positive health reforms.
"...his words of encouragement mean a lot as we continue working to build a healthier future for our people.” Dr. Musa Shared via his handle
This is coming after Gombe Hosted it's maiden Health Summit where analysts noted that the global acknowledgment continually received by the state could attract increased investment in Gombe’s health infrastructure, boost staff morale, and encourage other Nigerian states to replicate its data-led governance model. It also underscores the state’s emergence as a leader in the implementation of national health initiatives.
With Gates’ assurance that he will be “following Gombe’s progress with great interest,” expectations are high that the partnership between the state and the foundation will continue to yield impactful results, improving the lives of millions of Gombe residents.
Dairus Samson
PRO
GoHealth
