President Bola Tinubu has conferred the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), Nigeria’s third highest national honour, on American philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 3, at the President’s private residence in Lagos, recognizing Mr. Gates' decades-long commitment and extensive contributions to Nigeria and the African continent through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

President Tinubu lauded Mr. Gates for his profound impact on global health, agriculture, poverty alleviation, and education. He highlighted Mr. Gates' consistent efforts in "lifting the poor and underprivileged," describing these actions as an inspiration to leaders worldwide. The President stated that the honour was an acknowledgement of Mr. Gates' "indivisible commitment to humanity" and his foundation's work in saving millions of lives and uplifting communities through various interventions, including polio eradication, agricultural development, and digital innovation.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, co-chaired by Mr. Gates, has committed approximately $100 billion globally to development and health initiatives and has been a pivotal partner in Nigeria's progress. The foundation has invested over $2.8 billion in Nigeria to date, its largest financial commitment in Africa. These funds have supported critical public health initiatives, such as comprehensive immunisation campaigns, maternal and child health programs, malaria control, and were instrumental in Nigeria's polio eradication efforts. Beyond health, the foundation has also invested significantly in agricultural development and poverty reduction. Notable specific contributions include a $5.6 million donation in the last quarter of 2024 for flood relief, health, and agricultural reforms; a $7 billion commitment made in 2022 to support Nigeria and other African countries; and $1 million in 2020 to aid Nigeria's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a $2 million grant to the Nigerian Governors Forum.

A significant development during Mr. Gates' visit was the signing of a $7.5 million agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Scaling Hub. This initiative aims to coordinate the scaling of mature AI solutions in the country, fostering collaboration between government agencies, the private sector, academia, and development partners. The hub is envisioned to position Nigeria not merely as a user of emerging technologies but as a key contributor to their responsible design and deployment.

In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Gates expressed profound gratitude for the national honour, acknowledging it as a recognition of the dedicated work carried out by the Foundation’s teams and its numerous partners across Nigeria. He reaffirmed the Foundation’s foundational goal of supporting the enhancement of Nigeria’s health sector, commending President Tinubu, Minister of Health Muhammad Pate, and philanthropist Aliko Dangote for their collaborative spirit and leadership. Mr. Gates pointed to tangible successes, such as the significant reduction in child mortality rates attributable to new vaccines and expanded immunisation coverage, and the effective rollout of the HPV vaccine to protect young girls against cervical cancer. He reiterated his deep dedication to combating malnutrition and advancing initiatives to eradicate malaria in Nigeria, setting an ambitious target of achieving this within the next two decades. Furthermore, Mr. Gates confirmed his foundation's substantial future commitment to Africa, stating that the majority of its planned $200 billion in disbursements over the next 20 years, contingent on global market conditions and inflation, will be directed towards addressing challenges across the continent.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, affirmed that Mr. Gates's recognition was thoroughly deserved, citing his long-term involvement and the Foundation's investment of over $2 billion in sectors directly impacting Nigerians, including healthcare, agriculture, and the digital economy. Professor Pate specifically praised the collaborative efforts of Mr. Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote in mobilizing traditional leaders to overcome challenges related to immunisation uptake in Northern Nigeria, which was crucial for the nation's successful polio eradication.

Mr. Gates's visit also included his participation in the “Goalkeepers Nigeria” event, which focused on scaling innovation, Nigeria’s primary healthcare reform agenda, and its evolving national AI strategy. His engagements in Nigeria and Ethiopia were framed by the context of shifting global aid structures, with Mr. Gates affirming his and the Foundation's enduring commitment to supporting Africa’s progress in health and development. Reflecting this commitment, the Gates Foundation is also expanding its physical presence on the continent by opening new offices in Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, and Kenya, adding to its existing office in Ethiopia.

The Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) is traditionally conferred upon individuals who have rendered services of exceptional public value and made significant contributions to the nation’s development or enhanced its global standing. The award ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, and Zephaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, alongside executives from the Gates Foundation and other dignitaries.