The President of Gabon, His Excellency General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has awarded Tony Elumelu—Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation—with the Commander in the National Order of Gabonese Merit, one of the country’s highest national honours.
Presented at the presidential palace in Libreville on Monday, the award recognises Elumelu’s significant contributions to Africa’s economic transformation, with a particular focus on youth entrepreneurship and infrastructure development in Gabon and across the continent.
President Nguema, who was sworn in on Saturday, praised Elumelu for his commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. “Tony Elumelu is not only a visionary entrepreneur but a true friend of Gabon. Through UBA and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he demonstrates that investing in Africa is not just sound business—it is our shared future,” Nguema said.
Elumelu, who has paid several high-level visits to Gabon in recent months, expressed gratitude for the recognition. “I am deeply honoured. This award reflects our shared belief that African-led solutions and institutions are key to shaping the continent’s future. Gabon holds immense potential, and I am proud that UBA and the Tony Elumelu Foundation are part of its journey,” he said.
He added, “This is more than a medal—it is a reminder of what we can achieve together. At UBA and the Foundation, we are building bridges between ambition and opportunity.”
The honour comes at a critical time as Gabon pursues economic recovery and inclusive growth under its new leadership. Elumelu’s work in the country has focused on two strategic pillars: infrastructure financing to drive long-term transformation, and youth entrepreneurship, supported through his Foundation’s training, mentorship, and annual $5,000 seed capital to young entrepreneurs.
The award also reflects the strengthening financial partnership between Gabon and UBA, which continues to play a leading role in advancing financial inclusion across Africa. With operations in 20 African countries and international presence in the UK, France, UAE, and the U.S., UBA serves over 35 million customers worldwide.
Elumelu is also the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment company active in key sectors such as power, energy, hospitality, technology, and healthcare, and of Transcorp, Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate, which includes Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels.
As Africa’s leading advocate for entrepreneurship, Elumelu founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2010. Through a $100 million commitment, the Foundation has empowered over 18,500 entrepreneurs and built a digital community of more than one million young Africans across all 54 countries.
His vision is driven by the philosophy of Africapitalism, which places African entrepreneurs at the centre of the continent’s economic and social transformation.
In 2020, Elumelu was named among the TIME100 Most Influential People in the World and was honoured with Belgium’s oldest and highest royal order for his role in advancing economic empowerment across Africa.
