Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been awarded the prestigious national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The honour was officially conferred during a high-profile ceremony held in Lagos on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, among other top government officials and industry leaders. The CFR award is one of Nigeria’s highest national honours, and it recognises exceptional service and contributions to the country.
Bill Gates received this distinction in recognition of his longstanding commitment to improving global health, advancing education, and reducing poverty—efforts that have had a particularly significant impact on Nigeria. His foundation has established a number of strategic partnerships with the Nigerian government and local stakeholders to support development goals.
Gates is currently in Nigeria to engage in high-level discussions with President Tinubu and other senior officials regarding critical reforms in the country’s primary healthcare sector. His visit underlines the foundation’s continued dedication to improving healthcare delivery systems, especially in underserved communities.
As part of his visit, Gates will also participate in the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, which will spotlight Africa’s future in innovation and development. He is expected to meet with Nigerian scientists, entrepreneurs, and partners working to implement national strategies in artificial intelligence (AI) and scale up locally driven health solutions.
This visit comes shortly after the Gates Foundation’s announcement of a bold commitment to invest $200 billion over the next 20 years, with a focus on saving lives and accelerating development progress—particularly across Africa. The initiative aims to address persistent challenges in public health and social welfare through innovation and global collaboration.