By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday honoured Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates with Nigeria’s prestigious national honour, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), praising him as a global inspiration for leaders committed to uplifting the poor and underprivileged.
Speaking at the ceremony in Lagos, President Tinubu lauded Gates for his decades-long humanitarian work, particularly in maternal health, agriculture, and infectious disease research, through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“Today, I would like to share my happiness and respect and acknowledge one of the greatest human beings in the world,” Tinubu said. “All I need to say is thank you, Bill Gates, for your indivisible commitment to humanity. It is highly remarkable. It is an inspiration to leaders across the world, including the one standing before you.”
The President commended Gates for his leadership in prioritising the welfare of vulnerable populations, adding, “I thank you very much. It is a great thing to honour you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Minister of Health and Social Development, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighted Gates’ enduring contributions to Nigeria’s development, noting that the Gates Foundation has invested over $2 billion in critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and the digital economy.
Pate credited Gates and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote for their pivotal role in combating vaccine hesitancy in Northern Nigeria, mobilising traditional leaders to support immunisation campaigns that ultimately led to the eradication of polio in the country.
“When Mr. Gates came into Northern Nigeria, there were challenges with immunisation due to misinformation. Together with Alhaji Aliko Dangote, they mobilised traditional rulers, and with the strong support of the Gates Foundation, polio was defeated,” Pate stated.
In his acceptance speech, Gates expressed gratitude for the honour, dedicating it to his foundation’s team and reaffirming his commitment to improving healthcare in Nigeria.
“From the beginning, our goal was to support Nigeria’s health sector,” Gates, “In the past 25 years, we’ve achieved a lot—child mortality has decreased, polio has been eradicated, and new vaccines have been introduced.”
He announced further initiatives, including the rollout of the **HPV vaccine to combat cervical cancer, which claims 7,000 Nigerian women annually. Gates praised Nigeria’s successful vaccination drive for young girls, calling it “better than any other country.”
Looking ahead, Gates outlined ambitious goals, including ending malaria within 20 years and reducing malnutrition. “Some of our goals may seem ambitious, but we believe they are achievable with strong partnerships,”he said.
Gates assured President Tinubu of his unwavering dedication, vowing to invest his entire fortune over the next two decades to advance global health, with Nigeria as a key focus.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Aliko Dangote, Minister of Special Duties Zephaniah Jisalo, Gates Foundation executives, and Dr. Ayuba Burki Gufwan of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
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