From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, conferred one of Nigeria’s highest national honours, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), on American billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in Lagos.
The award recognises Gates’ decades-long contributions to global health, education, and poverty alleviation, as well as his strategic partnerships with Nigeria.
The honour was presented during Gates’ visit to Nigeria, which included meetings with President Tinubu and other officials to discuss reforms in the country’s primary healthcare system.
His itinerary also includes participation in the Goalkeepers Nigeria event and engagements with scientists and stakeholders working to expand AI-driven health solutions.
Gates, accompanied by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, received the honour at a ceremony in Lagos.
This visit follows Gates’ recent announcement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he pledged $200 billion over the next 20 years through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support global health and development, with a significant focus on Africa.
The Nigerian government has also partnered with the Gates Foundation on initiatives such as a $7.5 million AI scaling hub to advance health technology in the country.
