President Tinubu confers National Honour on Bill Gates

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the prestigious national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on billionaire philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates.

The honour was presented to Gates in Lagos on Tuesday, June 3, at an event attended by top government officials, including Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, and other dignitaries.

The award is in recognition of Gates’ long-standing contributions to global health, education, poverty alleviation, and his foundation’s strategic collaborations with Nigeria.

Gates is currently in Nigeria for high-level meetings with President Tinubu and other senior officials to deliberate on ongoing reforms within the country’s primary healthcare system. His visit also includes participation in the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, which highlights Africa’s innovation prospects in health and technology.

He is expected to engage with Nigerian scientists and partners working to develop national strategies for artificial intelligence (AI) and to expand health solutions across the country.

The visit comes shortly after the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged to commit $200 billion over the next 20 years to support health and development efforts, with a strong focus on Africa.