Brice Nguema, president of Gabon, has conferred the
country’s national honour — the commander in the national order of Gabonese
merit — on Tony Elumelu, the group chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA)
Plc.
In a statement on Tuesday, the UBA said the award recognises
Elumelu’s enduring contribution to Africa’s economic development, particularly
his impact on youth entrepreneurship and infrastructure growth in Gabon and
across the continent.
According to the statement, Nguema presented the award on
Monday at the presidential palace in Libreville, praising Elumelu’s commitment
to inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.
“Tony Elumelu is not only a visionary entrepreneur but also
a committed friend of our nation Gabon,” the president was quoted as saying.
“Through his Foundation and the UBA Group, he has
consistently shown that investing in Africa is not just good business – it is
the key to our shared future. Today, we honour a man whose actions continue to
empower young Africans and inspire nations.”
Accepting the honour, Elumelu, also founder of the Tony
Elumelu Foundation, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed
his commitment to supporting the country’s development agenda.
“I am truly humbled by this honour. It is a reflection not
just of my personal journey, but of a shared belief – that African-led
solutions, African entrepreneurs, and African institutions will shape the
future of this continent,” he said.
“Gabon holds enormous potential, and I am proud that the
Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA Group can play a role in unlocking it.
“This is more than a medal – it is a reminder of what we can
achieve together as Africans.
“At UBA and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we remain committed
to building bridges, not just between nations, but between ambition and
opportunity.”
The financial institution said the recognition comes at a
crucial time for Gabon, as the country accelerates its economic recovery and
prioritises inclusive growth under the new leadership.
“Elumelu’s engagement focuses on two key pillars of
Infrastructure financing which is essential for long-term economic
transformation and Youth entrepreneurship, championed through the Tony Elumelu
Foundation, which offers training, mentorship, and $5,000 in non-refundable
seed capital to young Gabonese and African entrepreneurs each year,” the bank
said.
The statement added that the award also strengthens
financial partnerships between Gabon and UBA, which has a strong presence
across the continent and plays a key role in promoting financial inclusion.
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