President Bola Tinubu has awarded Gilbert Chagoury, the Lebanese-Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist, the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
The conferment, formalised in an Instrument of National Honour dated 8 January 2026, recognised Chagoury’s exceptional contributions to Nigeria. The President, acting under the National Honours Act, granted him the full title, dignity and privileges of GCON.
Fellow billionaire Femi Otedola congratulated Chagoury on X, hailing him as a visionary leader whose projects, including Banana Island and Eko Atlantic City, have generated thousands of jobs and left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s urban development. “Your life is a masterclass in vision, discipline, and steady excellence,” Otedola wrote.
Chagoury, who co-founded the Chagoury Group in 1971 with his brother Ronald, has built a business empire with interests in construction, real estate, manufacturing, insurance, hospitality, telecommunications, IT and international financing.
