HONORABLE WILLIAM ZARD ABOU JAOUDE

Honorable William Zard Abou Jaoude was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, where he lived for a good portion of his life. Following the passing of his father, Honorable Zard Abou Jaoude took on the family businesses, companies, and family affairs. He returned to his native land in 1980 where he founded several companies in Lebanon and abroad. Honorable Abou Jaoude is a businessman and a philanthropist who contributes anonymously to education, social and human services, arts and culture, and national and community-development causes.  He is the recipient of various awards and medals from the British and Lebanese governments and institutions. Queen Elizabeth II granted him the title of Honorary Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1988, and in 1990, he was appointed by Her Majesty as Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom in Lebanon and became a member of the Honorary Consular Corps in Lebanon.  He is also the recipient of the Medal of the National Order of the Cedar (Officer Grade), the second highest national award, which bestowed upon him in 2007 by the Lebanese Republic. He is also the receiver of various commendations and letters of appreciations from the Lebanese Army for his pecuniary and moral support for this national institution. He was also recognized with the Maronite Central Council Gold Medal in 2004, an ‘Acknowledgment Award’ in 2016 from the Lebanon Dialogue Initiative (LDI) for his commitment and dedication to its cause, and an ‘Acknowledgement Award’ in 2016 for his support in furthering relations between Lebanon and the diaspora by the Lebanese Center for the Service of the Arab Latin American Relations (LIBRAMEX), among others. He is the founder of the Lebanese-Nigerian Friendship Association (LENIFRA), as well as the Founder and President of the Lebanon Dialogue Initiative (LDI). He was chosen to lead the Abou Jaoude Family Association, which is the dearest to his heart.