Gilbert R. Chagoury
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Ramez Chagoury is a Lebanese-Nigerian businessman, diplomat and philanthropist. Chagoury was born to Lebanese immigrant parents in Lagos, Nigeria. He studied at the College des Freres Chretiens in Lebanon before returning to Nigeria, where he married Rose Marie Chamchoum, from a family native to Miziara
, Northern Lebanon, in 1969.
, 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.
Founded in the late 1970s by Gilbert and Ronald Chagoury, C & C Construction was the forerunner of both Hitech and ITB, which now form the Construction Division of the Chagoury group
of Companies.
of Benin, and ambassador to UNESCO
.
, and his private contributions have improved health care and public infrastructure of Meziara, Northern Lebanon, home to both his and his wife's family. Chagoury 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.
The Louvre
's Gilbert et Rose Marie Chagoury gallery is named for them, housing a permanent exhibit including French works donated by the Chagourys.
Chagoury has donated in excess of $340,000 for the renovations of the Church of Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris, France.
Miziara
Miziara is a village located in the Zgharta District in the North Governorate of Lebanon. The village is home to the Marian shrine, Our Lady of Miziara, Mother of Mercies....
, Northern Lebanon, in 1969.
Business
In 1971, Chagoury founded the Chagoury GroupChagoury group
Founded in 1971 by Gilbert R. Chagoury and Ronald Chagoury, the Chagoury Group is headquartered in West Africa. The portfolio of activities include construction and property development, flour mills, water bottling and purification, glass manufacturing, insurance, hotels, furniture manufacturing,...
, 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.
Founded in the late 1970s by Gilbert and Ronald Chagoury, C & C Construction was the forerunner of both Hitech and ITB, which now form the Construction Division of the Chagoury group
Chagoury group
Founded in 1971 by Gilbert R. Chagoury and Ronald Chagoury, the Chagoury Group is headquartered in West Africa. The portfolio of activities include construction and property development, flour mills, water bottling and purification, glass manufacturing, insurance, hotels, furniture manufacturing,...
of Companies.
Diplomacy
Gilbert Chagoury served as an ambassador and adviser to governments in Africa and the Americas. Chagoury has also served as ambassador to the Vatican for St. Lucia, economic adviser to President Mathieu KérékouMathieu Kérékou
Mathieu Kérékou, was President of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and again from 1996 to 2006. After seizing power in a military coup, he ruled the country for 17 years, for most of that time under an officially Marxist-Leninist ideology, before he was stripped of his powers by the National Conference of...
of Benin, and ambassador to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Philanthropy
Chagoury is a key benefactor for St. Jude Children's Research HospitalSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501 tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.In...
, and his private contributions have improved health care and public infrastructure of Meziara, Northern Lebanon, home to both his and his wife's family. Chagoury serves on the board of the Lebanese American University
Lebanese American University
The Lebanese American University is a secular, private and independent American university located in Lebanon...
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.
The Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
's Gilbert et Rose Marie Chagoury gallery is named for them, housing a permanent exhibit including French works donated by the Chagourys.
Chagoury has donated in excess of $340,000 for the renovations of the Church of Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris, France.
Press
Chagoury has been interviewed by Arab Media TV host and producer Ricardo Karam. In 2010, ABC News reported on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's apology to Chagoury.External links
- http://friendsofstjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=55ecb7a0e3990110VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&vgnextchannel=5f56bfe82e118010VgnVCM1000000e2015acRCRD St. Jude's Ambassadors of Goodwill - Gilbert and Rose Marie Chagoury
- http://www.houseoflebanon.com/what_we_do/previous_recipients/chagouri_2005.html Lebanese American Foundation's 2005 Pride of Heritage Honoree to Chagoury
- http://www.gilbertchagoury.com Official website of Gilbert Chagoury
- http://www.chagourygroup.com Official website of The Chagoury Group
- http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-apologizes-billionaire-added-terror-fly-list/story?id=10698917 ABC News: US Apologizes to Billionaire Added to Terror No-fly List
- http://www.chagouryconstruction.com Official website of Chagoury Construction
- http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/2099/ Center for Public Integrity: Billionaire Clinton Pal Finally Gets Waiver from U.S. No-Fly List
- http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/page?id=10704096 US Department of Homeland Security letter apologizing to Gilbert Chagoury
- http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2005/december/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051201_ambassador-santa-lucia_en.html Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to Mr. Gilbert Ramez Chagoury
- http://campaign.lau.edu.lb/news/archive/gilbert_chagoury_gives_lau_grant_to_help_fund_nursing_school/ Lebanese American University: Gilbert Chagoury gives LAU grant to help fund Nursing School