In a historic ceremony held on June 3, 2025, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria conferred the prestigious Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) national honour on Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and chair of the Gates Foundation. This momentous event took place in Lagos as part of Gates’ ongoing visit to Nigeria, where he is engaging with federal and state leaders to discuss strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system.
The event, attended by key figures including Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and founder of the Dangote Group, saw President Tinubu presenting the CFR medal to Gates in recognition of his invaluable contributions to global health and development.
Gates, who has long been a prominent advocate for improving healthcare in developing nations, is currently in Nigeria to address critical health and development issues. According to a statement from the Gates Foundation, Gates’ visit focuses on engaging with Nigerian leadership to support ongoing reforms in the country’s primary healthcare system.
During his stay, Gates will also participate in the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, which highlights Africa’s innovation future. He is scheduled to meet with local scientists and partners contributing to Nigeria’s national strategy on artificial intelligence and health solutions.
A statement from the Gates Foundation outlined the significance of Gates’ visit: “From Addis Ababa, Gates will travel to Nigeria, where he will meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and engage with federal and state leaders to discuss Nigeria’s primary health care reforms.”
The Gates Foundation, which has long had a presence in Africa, also shared its commitment to deepening partnerships across the continent. Following the establishment of its first African office in Ethiopia over a decade ago, the Foundation has since opened offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal.
This visit comes on the heels of a major announcement from the Gates Foundation in May 2025, pledging to invest a staggering $200 billion over the next 20 years to support global health and development initiatives. The foundation confirmed that the vast majority of this investment would be directed toward healthcare initiatives across Africa.
The Gates Foundation’s pledge to advance global health aligns with Gates’ personal commitment to donate “virtually all of his wealth” to furthering the Foundation’s mission, a move that underscores his dedication to addressing global inequalities, particularly in health and development.
As Gates continues his travels through Africa, his involvement in advancing Nigeria’s healthcare reforms and his leadership in global health strategies continue to have a profound impact on the country’s efforts to improve the well-being of its citizens.