By Tosin Olatokunbo
The world is about to witness one of the biggest divorce saga after billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, said they are parting ways for good. The couple known for global philanthropy has agreed to a divorce after being together for close to 27 years.
The rich couple has helped many African countries including Nigeria to fight acute health diseases such as malaria and polio.
A message on the Bill and Melinda Gates Nigerian Foundations says “Our Nigeria office opened in Abuja in 2012 and has been working to help the country and its partners address an array of major health and development challenges. Our investments include support for efforts to eradicate polio, increase agricultural production, and promote gender equality.”
Those watching the divorce saga insist that the humanitarian activities of the couple would be greatly hampered over the decision of Bill and Belinda to part ways.
The couple said in a release that they could no longer spend the future together.
According to them “After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives.
“We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life,” the couple said in a message posted on the verified twitter handle of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill Gates, 65, and Melinda, 56 got married in 1993 after meeting 6 years earlier. Bill Gates became a billionaire at age 31 in 1987 and also met Melinda that same year. Bill Gates is valued at about $124 billion making him the 4th richest man in the world.
Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975 and launched the first windows operating software a decade later. Bill and Melinda officially established their foundation in 2000. Bill Gates resigned from his active day job at Microsoft in 2008 and stepped down as Chairman in 2014.
Details later………..
