President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred one of Nigeria’s highest national honours, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), on American billionaire and global philanthropist Bill Gates, recognising his decades-long commitment to improving public health and development across Nigeria.
The award was presented during a private ceremony at President Tinubu’s residence in Lagos on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The event, attended by dignitaries and health sector stakeholders, celebrated Gates’ pivotal contributions through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in areas such as maternal health, infectious disease control, agriculture, and education.
President Tinubu praised Gates’ sustained interventions in Nigerian healthcare, which have led to dramatic improvements in areas such as child immunisation, malaria control, and the fight against polio. According to him, Gates’ work has lifted millions out of hardship and inspired responsible leadership.
“Today, I would like to share my happiness and respect and acknowledge one of the greatest human beings in the world,” the president said.
“All I need to say is thank you Bill Gates, for your indivisible commitment to humanity. It is highly remarkable. It is an inspiration to leaders across the world, including the one standing before you. I thank you very much. It is a great thing to honour you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The CFR is Nigeria’s third-highest national decoration, after the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), typically reserved for vice presidents and other top leaders. The award is granted to individuals who have made significant contributions to the progress of the nation.
The Gates Foundation has invested over $2.8 billion in Nigeria, its largest commitment in Africa. The funding has supported disease eradication efforts, nutrition programs, agricultural development, and healthcare reform across all regions of the country.
Accepting the honour, Bill Gates said the award was not just a personal recognition but also one that reflects the Foundation’s partnership with Nigerian institutions over the past 25 years.
“Nigeria had some ambitious goals for improving health, and three people here today are great champions of that cause,” he said. “Of course, the President is making health a priority. Pate, we’ve worked together to handle great challenges, including the incredible progress on polio.
“Then, Dangote, I got to know, and we have done great work together. So, in the 25 years in Nigeria, we have achieved a lot. As was mentioned, the child death rate has gone down, and that’s because new vaccines were received to boost our efforts.”
He described the campaign to eradicate polio as one of the Foundation’s toughest challenges, but one that taught valuable lessons and strengthened cooperation with traditional institutions.
“We’ve made significant progress, especially in vaccine coverage and polio eradication, thanks to strong collaboration,” Gates added.
He also drew attention to Nigeria’s recent success in rolling out the HPV vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer—a disease that kills over 7,000 Nigerian women every year.
Gates stated: “Some of our goals may seem ambitious. But I’m committed to investing all my wealth in this mission over the next 20 years.”
The Foundation’s future plans include targeting malnutrition and supporting new vaccine technologies to help eliminate malaria within two decades.
Minister of Health and Social Development, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the award was well-earned and recalled how Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote helped bridge cultural resistance to vaccination in Northern Nigeria.
“From that time until now, the Gates Foundation and its partners have invested over $2 billion in Nigeria,” Pate said. “These funds have strengthened health care delivery, agriculture, and the digital economy, all with real, measurable impact.”
Other key figures present at the event included Africa’s richest man and president of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo; Ayuba Burki Gufwan, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities; and senior executives from the Gates Foundation.
Mr Gates is expected to attend the “Goalkeepers Nigeria” event on Wednesday, where discussions will focus on primary healthcare reform and Nigeria’s growing interest in artificial intelligence for health innovation. The event will also explore how the country can scale up grassroots solutions to national development challenges.
