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LAGOS, Nigeria - President Bola Tinubu commended Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of the Bill Gates Foundation, in Lagos on Tuesday for his role in uplifting impoverished and disadvantaged communities globally.
The president presented Gates with the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, highlighting the philanthropist's contributions to maternal health, agriculture, and infectious disease research.
He expressed gratitude for Gates' global leadership focused on improving the lives and safety of the less fortunate.
"Today, I want to express my joy and admiration for one of the most exceptional human beings. Thank you, Bill Gates, for your unwavering dedication to humanity, which is truly extraordinary," the president stated.
"Your work inspires leaders all around the world, including myself. I sincerely thank you. It is a privilege to honor you as the president of Nigeria," he remarked.
In response, Gates expressed his happiness at receiving the recognition on behalf of himself and his remarkable team at the foundation.
He noted that the foundation's mission from the start was to enhance Nigeria's health sector.
He acknowledged Nigeria's ambitious health improvement goals, praising three key individuals present for their championing of that initiative.
"The president is certainly prioritizing health. Pate, we have collaborated to tackle significant challenges, including making notable strides against polio. And Dangote, we have also partnered effectively," he commented.
Reflecting on his 25 years in Nigeria, Gates mentioned the substantial progress made, particularly in reducing child mortality rates due to new vaccines being introduced.
He pointed out the emphasis on increasing vaccination coverage for all children and described the effort to eliminate polio as one of the foundation's most daunting tasks.
He highlighted the introduction of HPB vaccines aimed at reducing the 7,000 yearly deaths from cervical cancer among women, noting that a single dose could offer lifelong protection to girls aged 9-14.
"Nigeria has outperformed other countries in distributing this vaccine to young girls," Gates remarked.
Furthermore, he conveyed his commitment to addressing malnutrition and distributing vaccines to help eradicate malaria in Nigeria. "Some of our objectives may appear ambitious; for instance, we aim to eliminate malaria in the next twenty years," he stated.
Gates assured the president of his ongoing dedication to enhancing health in Nigeria, with plans to invest his entire wealth in this initiative over the next two decades.
