President Bola Tinubu has conferred the prestigious Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) award on Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.
The ceremony took place in Lagos on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, during Gates’ visit to Nigeria to discuss healthcare reforms and development initiatives.
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 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 followed 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.
Gates’ visit focused on discussing healthcare reforms and development initiatives in Nigeria.
He participated in an event focused on Africa’s innovation future, highlighting local AI innovations and efforts to strengthen primary healthcare.
Gates also engaged with local scientists and partners contributing to Nigeria’s national strategy on AI and health solutions.
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The Gates Foundation has pledged to invest $200 billion in the next 20 years to advance global health and development, with a significant portion targeting Africa.
This commitment underscored the foundation’s dedication to improving health outcomes in Africa.
The Gates Foundation has made significant contributions to global health, including:
The foundation has contributed to saving more than 80 million lives globally through its work on vaccine development, disease eradication, and health systems strengthening.
The foundation has opened offices in several African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, reflecting its commitment to deepening partnerships across the continent.
Gates emphasised the potential of AI-enabled solutions in transforming Africa’s healthcare sector.
He cited examples like Rwanda’s use of ultrasound screening to detect high-risk pregnancies, highlighting the potential for innovative solutions to drive progress in Africa’s healthcare future.
Gates’ visit and the CFR award highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in driving healthcare reforms and development initiatives in Nigeria.
The Gates Foundation’s commitment to investing in Africa’s healthcare future is expected to have a significant impact on the continent’s health outcomes.
