Nigeria honors billionaire Bill Gates with major national award

The Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) award comes as Bill Gates visits Nigeria to meet President Bola Tinubu and other leaders to discuss reforms in the country’s primary healthcare system.

According to the Gates Foundation, he will also attend the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, engage with scientists, and support efforts to scale AI-driven health solutions.

The CFR is one of the highest national honours awarded by the Nigerian government, typically reserved for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation’s development or enhanced Nigeria’s image on the global stage.

Recently, Bill Gates announced his intention to donate a significant portion of his personal wealth to support development initiatives across African nations.

He described the move as both a moral responsibility and a strategic investment in the future of a continent with some of the world’s fastest-growing populations and most pressing development needs.

Gates, 69, noted that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has already committed $100 billion to global health and development efforts and anticipates spending an additional $200 billion over the coming decades, depending on market conditions and inflation.

In Nigeria, the foundation’s impact has been particularly notable, especially in the areas of public health. Its support for immunization campaigns, maternal and child healthcare, and the eradication of diseases like polio and malaria has had far-reaching effects across the country.

Beyond health, Gates has also championed improvements in education and access to technology throughout Africa. He has frequently stressed the role of data, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration in addressing systemic challenges and unlocking the continent’s potential.