Abdul Samad Rabiu – Nominated for Man of Steel (Male TrailBlazer)

Abdul Samad Rabiu is a Nigerian industrialist whose career is a story of strategic competition
and resilience. He founded BUA International Limited in 1988 for commodity trading and has
since built the BUA Group into a diversified conglomerate with interests in cement production,
sugar refining, and real estate. His bold vision was to compete head-to-head with larger, well-
entrenched players like Dangote, which meant investing heavily in efficiency and distribution to
gain market share.

Rabiu’s career is a testament to his resilience. He built a business from a small inheritance and
has navigated significant market fluctuations to position BUA as a major competitor in key
sectors. He is also a leading philanthropist through the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative, which
focuses on investing in education and health across Africa. His significant contributions and
influence have earned him a spot on Nigeria’s list of the richest entrepreneurs.