President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic on American billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates.
Tinubu conferred the honour on the billionaire philanthropist during a ceremony held at his private residence in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the recognition is in acknowledgement of Mr Gates’ decades-long interventions in maternal health, agriculture and infectious disease research in the country.
Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.
..
He noted that Mr Gates inspires leaders worldwide by consistently lifting the poor and underprivileged.
President Tinubu thanked the billionaire philanthropist for providing global leadership that prioritises ameliorating the lives and safety of the poor and underprivileged.
“Today, I would like to share my happiness and respect and acknowledge one of the greatest human beings in the world,” he 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.
“I thank you very much. It is a great thing to honour you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The CFR is Nigeria’s third-highest honour, behind the GCFR (Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic) and GCON (Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger).
The GCFR is usually reserved for Nigerian presidents while the GCON is often reserved for vice presidents (with few exceptions). The CFR is conferred on individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation’s development.
The national recognition comes just a day after Mr Gates reiterated his commitment to the African continent.
Gates recently pledged that the majority of the $200 billion his foundation will disburse over the next two decades will be allocated to improving health and development in Africa.
He said this on Monday at the Nelson Mandela Hall of the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.
..
“I recently made a commitment 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 told the audience, including African leaders, health professionals, youth representatives, and development partners.
Gates praised African governments that prioritise the health and well-being of their citizens and called for more investment in primary healthcare.
He said investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing.
..