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Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu CFR CON GCON (Listen; born 4 August 1960) is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. As of 2024, he is the second richest man in Nigeria. His late father, Khalifah Isyaku Rabiu, was one of Nigeria's foremost industrialists in the 1970s and 1980s. Abdul Samad is the founder and chairman of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate concentrating on manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture and producing a revenue in excess of $2.5 billion. He is also the chairman of the Nigerian Bank of Industry (BOI).

On 7 July 2020, Forbes estimated Rabiu's wealth at $3.2 billion, putting him 716th in the global billionaire's club. In January 2022, he was reported to be the second richest man in Nigeria. In April 2022 he was reported to be the fifth-richest man in Africa, with a net worth of $6.7 billion. In January 2023, Rabiu was reported to have become the 4th richest man in Africa.

Early life

Abdul Samad Rabiu was born and raised in Kano in the north-western part of Nigeria. He visited Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, US and later returned to Nigeria to oversee the family business. This was when his father Isyaku Rabiu was being detained by the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly not paying rice import duties.

Business

Abdul Samad Rabiu established BUA International Limited in 1988 for the sole purpose of commodity trading. The company imported rice, edible oil, flour, and iron and steel.

In 1990, the government, which owned Delta Steel Company, contracted with BUA to supply its raw materials in exchange for finished products. This provided a much-needed windfall for the young company. BUA expanded further into steel, producing billets, importing iron ore, and constructing multiple rolling mills in Nigeria.

Years later, BUA acquired Nigerian Oil Mills Limited, the largest edible oil processing company in Nigeria. In 2005 BUA started two flour-milling plants, in Lagos and in Kano. By 2008, BUA had broken an eight-year monopoly in the Nigerian sugar industry by commissioning the second largest sugar refinery in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2009 the company went on to acquire a controlling stake in a publicly listed Cement Company in Northern Nigeria and began to construct a $900 million cement plant in Edo State, completing it in early 2015.

Philanthropy

Abdul Samad Rabiu uses the BUA Foundation for his philanthropic activities. These include the construction of 7,000-square-meter paediatric ward at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the construction of the Centre for Islamic Studies at Bayero University Kano amongst several others.

Personal life

Samad Rabiu was married to Hannatu Musawa. He has four children. They are Khadija Cookie Rabiu, Isyaku Khalifa Rabiu, Junaid Rabiu, and Rania Rabiu. He has 42 siblings including Nafiu Rabiu and Rabiu Rabiu, the chairman of IRS Airlines.

Award

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari. He also holds the Commander of the Order of the Niger national honor in Nigeria as well as the Grand Commander of the Order of Merit of Niger (GCOM) Honour in Niger Republic Niger Republic Honours Abdul Samad Rabiu.

References

1. "FULL LIST: Okonjo-Iweala, Abba Kyari... FG nominates 437 persons for national honours". TheCable. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
2. "Africa's Billionaires". Forbes. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
3. "Rabiu, Alakija, others in Forbes 'Black Billionaires' list". Premium Times Nigeria. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
4. "Dangote, Adenuga, Alakija rank among richest Blacks". Punch Newspapers. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
5. "Vp Osinbajo's Unquenchable Love For Bua Boss, Abdulsamad Rabiu". THISDAYLIVE. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
6. "Abdulsamad Rabiu". Forbes Africa's 50 Richest. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
7. Nsehe, Mfonobong. "The Black Billionaires 2019". Forbes. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
8. Oluwole, Victor (7 January 2022). "Abdul Samad Rabiu is now the second-richest man in Nigeria". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
9. Nworah, Victor (27 April 2022). "Nigerian Billionaire, Abdul Samad Rabiu is now the 5th Richest African". Tickernewsng.com. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
10. "Le Nigérian Abdul Samad Rabiu détrône l'Egyptien Nassef Sawiris et devient le 4e homme le plus riche d'Afrique".
11. ^ Aluwong, Jeremiah (8 April 2020). "Everyday Heroes: AbdulSamad Rabiu". Connect Nigeria. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
12. Agboola, Oluwatoyin (10 September 2018). "Top 3 Achievements of Abdul-Samad Rabiu- Chairman of Nigerian Conglomerate BUA Group". Olatorera Consultancy Limited. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
13. Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Legendary Nigerian Businessman Isyaku Rabiu Passes On At 93". Forbes. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
14. "FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper". 9 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.

• 1960 births
• Living people
• Nigerian billionaires
• Capital University alumni
• 20th-century Nigerian businesspeople
• 21st-century Nigerian businesspeople
• People from Kano State
• Businesspeople from Kano