The Honour: CFR Conferred by President Tinubu
On June 3, 2025, during Gates’ visit to Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu bestowed the prestigious Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on him at the President’s residence in Lagos
The CFR is Nigeria’s third-highest national award, given to individuals who’ve made outstanding contributions to national development
Tinubu lauded Gates for his “decades-long commitment to improving lives through global health, polio eradication, education, digital innovation, and agricultural development”—adding that his work “saved millions”
Why It Matters: Gates’ Philanthropic Legacy in Nigeria
Health & Polio Eradication
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has played a central role in Nigeria’s journey to becoming certified polio-free in August 2020, through robust routine immunization and surveillance efforts
Minister of Health Muhammad Ali Pate emphasized that Gates’ support was instrumental in Nigeria eliminating wild polio
But Gates cautioned Nigeria to stay vigilant, as vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases are still circulating—especially in Karnıčka – northern states like Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi. He noted a ~40% reduction in polio cases in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, but stressed the importance of sustained government commitment in the “final sprint” to eradication.
Broader Development Initiatives
Beyond health, BMGF has invested heavily in areas like education, agriculture, sanitation, nutrition, clean water, and maternal & child health across Nigeria and Africa as a whole .
In 2024, BMGF funded $5.6 million for flood relief, agricultural modernization, and bolstering the health sector
Digital Innovation & AI
As part of Gates’ Nigerian visit, BMGF signed a $7.5 million partnership to establish an AI Scaling Hub with the Nigerian government. The initiative aims to harness AI in health, agriculture, and education
3. Gates’ Vision & Commitment
At 69, Gates has pledged to distribute nearly all of his $200 billion fortune over the next 20 years—much of it to Africa
His foundation has already committed over $100 billion to global development and health
He described engaging in Africa as both a “moral responsibility and a strategic investment,” noting Nigeria as the continent’s largest beneficiary of his funding
He stressed that Nigeria’s continuation of polio eradication efforts is vital, especially as global funding tightens, praising government and frontline worker efforts and calling for high-quality vaccination campaigns and surveillance.
