Elías Bechara Zainúm

Elías Bechara Zainúm (December 10, 1920 – August 9, 2013) was a Colombian educator, philanthropist and chemist-bacteriologist, founder of the University of Córdoba and the Sinú University, in Colombia.

Early life Zainúm was the son of Syrian-Lebanese migrants who arrived in Colombia towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, settling in Lorica, Córdoba. As a child, Zainúm was a great reader and always wanted to help and protect his classmates. Zainúm moved to Cartagena for high school.

University of Sinú In 1974 he founded the Higher Educational Corporation of Córdoba.