JUST IN: Tinubu Confers CFR On Bill Gates After N200bn Pledge

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

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced this through his Facebook page on Tuesday.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday night conferred the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on billionaire Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and founder of Bill Gates Foundation. Photo: State House,” Onanuga wrote.

The CFR title is one of Nigeria’s highest national honours awarded to individuals in recognition of exceptional service to the nation.

Gates, Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is currently on a working visit to Africa, with stops in Ethiopia and Nigeria.

During a speech at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the billionaire reaffirmed his foundation’s long-term commitment to Africa.

He also revealed that the bulk of his recent $200bn pledge will be invested in the continent over the next two decades.

Gates said that the funds would target key areas including primary healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) in health systems, and youth-led innovation.

He urged African governments to accelerate health and development through innovation and collaboration.

”I recently committed that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” he said.

The billionaire philanthropist said that
partnering with governments that prioritise citizens’ well-being would be key to achieving sustainable impact.

He lauded African countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Zambia for their bold leadership in transforming healthcare delivery, using data to cut child mortality, and leveraging innovation to fight infectious diseases.

In Nigeria, Gates will attend the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, spotlighting local AI innovations and efforts to strengthen primary healthcare.

He highlighted the success of AI-enabled solutions to include ultrasound screening in Rwanda to detect high-risk pregnancies, describing it as a “glimpse into Africa’s promising healthcare future.”

He urged African nations to embed AI in the design of next-generation health systems, drawing comparisons to how mobile banking revolutionised the continent’s financial sector.

The event featured remarks by global leaders including Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, and Mrs Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General.

Both women praised African governments for demonstrating resilience and leadership in improving public health outcomes.

Renowned advocate for women and children, Mrs Graça Machel, called Gates’ continued investment a “beacon of hope” during a moment of global uncertainty.

”We are counting on Mr Gates’ steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us,” she said.