The Nelson Mandela Foundation in association with the University of Pretoria has announced that co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates, will deliver the 14th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on 17th of July 2016, the eve of Mandela Day.
Gates, 60, and co-founder of Microsoft, 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 the founder, Nelson Mandela, and to raise topical issues affecting South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.
In a statement, Gates 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,” Gates noted.
Chairman of the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Professor Njabulo Ndebele, said: “The Nelson Mandela Foundation shares Gates’ 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.
International dialogue “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.”
It encourages both local and international dialogue – often about difficult subjects – as a means to address the multiple and complex challenges that face the world today.
“Living Together” highlights the need for a new social pact across the globe to end protracted conflict, overcome intolerance and prejudice, improve access to healthcare and education, and reduce poverty and inequality.
Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, stated: “We are delighted that Mr Gates has accepted our invitation to deliver this year’s Lecture. I have no doubt that his views will stimulate debate and highlight the issues that continue to curb progress of poor and marginalised communities in South Africa and around the world.”
In his contribution, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, stated that: “As an innovator and a philanthropist, I know Bill Gates will inspire students, staff and academics at the University of Pretoria. His dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the poor sets a remarkable example for us all”.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works with partners and grantees to combat infectious diseases; empower women and girls to transform their lives; ensure that children and young people survive and thrive; and inspire people to take action to change the world.
Through its support for innovative techniques, tools and approaches, the Foundation has helped make possible dramatic progress in reducing hunger, alleviating poverty, and preventing and treating HIV, malaria, and polio in Africa and around the world. Previous speakers of the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture include Former US President, Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nobel laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai.
No comments:
Post a Comment