Gilbert Chagoury
 |
Gilbert R. Chagoury | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Lebanese Nigerian |
| Education | College des Freres Chretiens |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman Diplomat Philanthropist |
| Spouse | Rose-Marie Chagoury |
Gilbert Ramez Chagoury (born 1946) is a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire businessman,[1] diplomat and philanthropist.
Biography
Early life
Gilbert Chagoury was born to Lebanese immigrant parents in Lagos, Nigeria.[2] He studied at the College des Freres Chretiens in Lebanon before returning to Nigeria.
Business
In 1971, he founded the Chagoury Group,[3][4] an industrial conglomerate with interests in construction, real estate and property development, flour mills, water bottling and purification, glass manufacturing, insurance, hotels, furniture manufacturing, telecommunications, IT, catering and international financing.[5][failed verification] Gilbert and Ronald Chagoury founded C & C Construction in the late 1970s, which was the forerunner of Hitech and ITB (these now form the Construction Division of the Chagoury group of Companies).[6]
Through their ownership of the Chagoury Group, Gilbert Chagoury and family have an estimated wealth of $4.2 billion.[1]
Diplomacy and politics
He served as an Ambassador and Adviser to governments in Africa and the Americas. He has also served as Ambassador to the Vatican for St. Lucia, economic adviser to President Mathieu Kérékou of Benin, and ambassador to UNESCO.[7]
Ghagoury was a close associate of Nigerian dictator, General Sani Abacha, who helped his business interests in the country. After Abacha died in 1998, Chagoury returned an estimated $300 million to the Nigerian government to secure his indemnity from possible criminal charges.[2]
Chagoury has been a supporter of Bill and Hillary Clinton since the 1990s. He has funded their election campaigns and is a major donor to the Clinton Foundation.[2]
In 2010, ABC News reported on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's apology to Chagoury for his detention at Teterboro airport for over four hours because of inclusion on a no-fly list.
Philanthropy
He is a key benefactor for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and his private contributions have improved health care and public infrastructure of Meziara, Northern Lebanon, home to both his and his wife's family.[8] He serves on the board of the Lebanese American University where he provided a donation of $10 million to fund the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine and $3.5 million for the construction of the Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing.[9]
The Louvre's Gilbert et Rose Marie Chagoury Gallery is named for them, housing a permanent exhibit including French works donated by the Chagourys.[10] He has donated in excess of $340,000 for the renovations of the Church of Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris, France. [11] He has also donated US$10,000 to the Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden in Beverly Hills, California.[12]
Personal life
He is married to Rose Marie Chamchoum of Miziara in Northern Lebanon since 1969.[13]
References
- ^ a b "The Richest People In Africa 2013". Ventures Africa. October 9, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
- ^ a b c Ermshwiller, John R. (December 20, 2008). "Bill Clinton's Complicated World: Donor to Former President's Foundation Had Business Ties to Nigerian Dictator". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ Africa South of the Sahara. Taylor & Francis, The University of Michigan. 2007. p. 103. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ "How the private sector is slowly but surely rebuilding Nigeria". Martz publishing. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ Chagoury Group
- ^ Chagoury Construction intro
- ^ Vatican
- ^ St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- ^ Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing
- ^ The Louvre
- ^ Notre Dame du Liban
- ^ Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden
- ^ House of Lebanon