Bill Gates to give speech at yearly event

folarin okunola

May 18, 2016 1:13 PM

Bill Gates answers questions after giving a lecture on international aid to parliamentarians and guests in the Robing Room of the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster, London November 10, 2014. REUTERS/Tim Ireland/Pool

Media reports have revealed that the Nelson Mandela Foundation in association with the University of Pretoria, today announced that Bill Gates will deliver the 14th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on 17 July 2016, the eve of Mandela Day.

Gates, who is co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will address the theme “Living Together” in his lecture at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus.

The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture is one of the Foundation’s flagship programmes to honour its founder, Nelson Mandela, and to raise topical issues affecting South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. The Lectures are addressed by speakers who have made a significant contribution in their field of expertise.

READ: Billionaire's foundation partners Bill Gates to donate $100 million to fight undernutrition

Considered one of the most influential individuals of our time, Gates, co-founder of Microsoft said, “It’s an incredible honour to be invited to deliver this year’s Nelson Mandela Lecture. President Mandela will be remembered for generations to come for his courage, his vision, and his relentless pursuit of equality and justice. I believe, as he did, that progress is possible. We can help people everywhere live healthier, more productive lives - if we make sure that innovation reaches everyone who needs it. I can’t think of a better venue for discussing these urgent issues than the Nelson Mandela Lecture."

Professor Njabulo Ndebele, Chairman of the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation said, “The Nelson Mandela Foundation shares Mr Gates’s commitment to improving the quality of life for people around the world. We know that the promise of a better life is possible through improving access and quality of education, health and opportunity. These are causes that Mr Gates continues to advance and support. We are honoured to have him to share his insights on the most challenging issues of our time."

The Lecture will be held at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus.

folarin okunola

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