President Bola Tinubu has conferred the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.
The conferment took place on Tuesday in Lagos as part of Gates’ ongoing visit to Nigeria to discuss key health and development initiatives.
Photos from the event show President Tinubu presenting the medal of honour to Gates, with Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and founder of the Dangote Group, also present at the ceremony.
Gates, who is the chair of the Gates Foundation, is visiting Nigeria to engage with federal and state leaders on strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system.
According to a statement from the Gates Foundation, Gates will also participate in a Goalkeepers Nigeria event focused on Africa’s innovation future and hold talks with local scientists and partners contributing to Nigeria’s national strategy on artificial intelligence and health solutions.
“From Addis Ababa, Gates will travel to Nigeria, where he will meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and engage with federal and state leaders to discuss Nigeria’s primary health care reforms,” the statement read.
The Foundation added that the opening of offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, alongside its first African office in Ethiopia over a decade ago, reflects its commitment to deepening partnerships across the continent.
Gates’ visit follows a major announcement by the Gates Foundation on May 8, pledging to invest $200 billion over the next 20 years to advance global health and development—part of Gates’ personal commitment to donate “virtually all of his wealth” to the Foundation.
