Microsoft Co-Founder and philanthropist, Bill Gates, has projected that Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic hub, will become the largest city in the world. Speaking at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event held in Lagos, Gates highlighted Africa’s demographic strength and urban expansion as key drivers of global trends in the 21st century.
“Africa is a very young continent,” Gates stated. “More than half of all children born this century will be African. That youthfulness will shape global trends in profound ways.”
Gates emphasized Lagos as a prime example of Africa’s rapid urban growth, noting, “The city we’re in today will, by far, be the largest in the world. That’s going to make for a dynamic and vibrant environment, and the world will be watching.”
However, Gates cautioned that Africa’s potential will depend on strategic investments in health, education, and infrastructure. “Whether this young population drives transformative progress will depend on the choices we make in the next 20 years,” he said. “If we invest wisely, Africa’s future is nothing short of extraordinary.”