President Bola Tinubu has awarded the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) to Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in recognition of his significant contributions to global health, education, and poverty alleviation.
The honour was conferred during a ceremony held in Lagos on Tuesday, June 3, attended by senior government officials, including Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
The CFR award highlights Gates’ longstanding partnership with Nigeria through the Gates Foundation, particularly in strengthening the country’s healthcare system and supporting education and development initiatives.
Gates is currently in Nigeria to meet with President Tinubu and other top officials to discuss reforms in primary healthcare. His visit also includes participation in the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, which focuses on Africa’s innovation landscape, and engagements with local scientists and partners involved in shaping Nigeria’s artificial intelligence strategy and scaling up health interventions.
The visit follows the Gates Foundation’s announcement of a $200 billion commitment over the next two decades aimed at improving lives and accelerating development across Africa.
