Tony Elumelu Bags Gabon National Honour For Advancing Africa’s Development

Gabonese President, Brice Nguema has conferred the country’s national honour —the commander in the national order of Gabonese merit— on Mr. Tony Elumelu, the 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,” Elumelu added.

UBA Group said the recognition on its Chairman 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.