Melinda French Gates announced Monday she was leaving the philanthropy mega foundation she established with her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

The resignation, which becomes effective on June 7, will leave Bill Gates as the sole chair of one of the world’s most influential and powerful non-governmental organizations.

“After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Melinda French Gates wrote in a statement posted on social media.

The statement gave no reason for her departure, but noted that “under the terms of my agreement with Bill, in leaving the foundation, I will have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families.”

The couple married in 1994 but announced their divorce in 2021.

They had continued to co-chair the foundation which they established in 2001 with the vast wealth acquired through the success of Microsoft.

With a focus on child poverty and preventable diseases, the foundation has been heavily involved in fighting malaria and in providing toilets and sanitation in poorer parts of the world.

The foundation’s website says it has spent $53.8 billion since 2000, and claims the number of children around the world who die before their fifth birthday has halved in this time.

Bill Gates thanked his ex-wife for her “critical contributions” to the organization.

“As a co-founder and co-chair Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality,” he said.

“I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work.”

The organization’s chief executive, Mark Suzman, said its name would change to simply the Gates Foundation — it has been known as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“I truly admire Melinda, and the critical role she has played in starting the foundation and in setting our values, she has played an essential role in all that we’ve accomplished over the past 24 years,” he said in a video posted to social media.

“I will miss working with her and learning from her. I look forward to seeing her continued impact.”

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Tuesday that at least 35,173 people have been killed in the territory during more than seven months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

The toll includes at least 82 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 79,061 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.

In a devastating turn of events today, tragedy struck the streets of Oke- Owode in Ogbomoso as a fatal collision between a bus laden with mango fruits and a car occupied by suspected yahoo boys claimed the lives of two individuals, including the bus driver.

Eyewitness accounts at the scene painted a grim picture, alleging that the occupants of the car, believed to be involved in cybercrime activities, were driving recklessly, possibly impaired by alcohol.

Their vehicle collided with the mango-laden bus, resulting in the loss of lives.

Promptly responding to the distress call, law enforcement officials arrived at the scene to assess the situation.

Their efforts focused on clearing the obstruction caused by the bus and attending to the victims. The bodies of the deceased were carefully removed and transported for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the car driven by the suspected yahoo boys was impounded and taken to the Police Area Command for thorough examination.

Authorities are committed to unraveling the circumstances leading to the accident and holding those responsible accountable.

The incident has caused significant disruption to traffic in the Oke Owode area, prompting authorities to work tirelessly to restore normalcy.

Expressing shock and grief, local residents and community members emphasised the importance of adherence to traffic regulations and called for caution among drivers to avert such tragedies in the future.

As investigations unfold, the police remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, determined to establish the facts surrounding the accident and ensure that justice is served.