PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday night conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of the Bill Gates Foundation.
The brief investiture ceremony took place at the President’s private residence in Lagos, during Gates’ visit to Nigeria.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the investiture in a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956.
“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,” Onanuga informed in the tweet.
It is believed that the honour was conferred in recognition of Gates’ contributions to global health and development, particularly in Nigeria, through his foundation’s long-term support for public health, vaccination, and poverty alleviation efforts.
Gates has maintained a strong engagement with Nigeria for nearly two decades, with his foundation investing in initiatives spanning polio eradication, agricultural development, and health system strengthening.
The CFR, one of Nigeria’s highest national honours, is traditionally awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and progress of the country.
