President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred Nigeria’s prestigious national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

The ceremony took place on Tuesday night, at the President’s private residence in Lagos.

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, accompanied Gates during the visit.

The CFR is one of Nigeria’s highest national honours, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation’s development or enhanced its global standing.

Gates received the honour in recognition of his decades-long commitment to health, education and poverty alleviation across Africa, particularly through the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

During his visit to Nigeria, Gates met with President Tinubu and other government officials to discuss reforms in the country’s primary healthcare system.

He also participated in the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, which spotlighted local innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) and efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems.

Additionally, Gates engaged with scientists and stakeholders focused on expanding AI-driven health solutions.

A significant outcome of 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, convening government agencies, private sector tech companies, academia and development partners to support large-scale implementation of AI innovations.

The AI Scaling Hub is expected to position Nigeria as not only a user of emerging technologies but as a key player in their responsible design and deployment.

Gates, 69, described his continued engagement with Africa as both a “moral responsibility and a strategic investment.”

Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—which he co-chairs—Gates has already committed $100 billion to global development and health initiatives. The foundation also plans to invest an additional $200 billion in Africa over the coming decades, subject to global market conditions and inflation.

In Nigeria, the Foundation has focused on public health, supporting immunisation programs, maternal and child healthcare and disease eradication efforts targeting polio and malaria.

It has also invested in education initiatives and expanded access to digital tools.

A statement from the foundation noted that Gates’ visit to Nigeria and Ethiopia comes at a time when global aid structures are shifting.

“In Ethiopia and Nigeria this week, Gates will see first-hand the state of health and development priorities in the wake of foreign aid cuts, and he will affirm his and the Foundation’s commitment to supporting Africa’s progress in health and development over the next 20 years,” the statement read.