Billionaire tycoon Rabiu counts blessings at 66

With Funsho Arogundade

Some people build wealth, others build industries. Few build a world. This is the world of Abdul Samad Rabiu. It’s common knowledge that industrialists wager not merely on markets but on the future of the entire country. Rabiu has generously earned his epithet as one of the builders of modern Nigerian industry. His spirit of passion, commitment, resilience and hard work has made him one of the most recognisable names in Africa as he sits atop what is arguably one of the continent’s largest business conglomerates.

The billionaire industrialist and Chairman of BUA Group has built a business empire that reaches far beyond Nigeria but started with a belief that Nigeria should produce more of what it consumes. Truly, Rabiu didn’t wait for opportunities but created the playbook. Where others wait for applause, he plays for legacy. He believes Africa’s future depends on building industries that create jobs and opportunities for young people. Factories, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and technology are more than sectors of the economy —they are platforms for empowering the next generation.

Rabiu is leading Africa’s industrial powerhouse, turning the continent’s resources into prosperity, creating tools, boosting trade, and transforming the business and industrial landscape. With a fortune worth over $17 billion, Rabiu is now Africa’s second-richest man.

In May, the Nigerian tycoon was named CEO of the Year at the 2026 Africa CEO Forum Awards in Kigali, Rwanda, in recognition of his leadership and contributions to industrial development across the continent. He has also continued to gain international recognition for his growing business empire and philanthropy through the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), which supports health, education and social development projects across Africa.

On Tuesday August 5, the African champion of commerce whose business interests span cement, foods, sugar, infrastructure and manufacturing, turned 66. Expectedly, there were no loud or elaborate birthday celebrations but Rabiu was greeted with a flood of congratulatory messages and tributes in both mainstream and online media platforms. Goodwill messages were also poured on him by scores of political and business leaders including President Bola Tinubu as well as loads of admirers.

On his own, the business mogul, who has the national honours of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CRF) and Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, marked the day with a message of gratitude, faith and hope. He was full of praises as he attributed his life’s journey and achievements to God’s faithfulness. Rabiu reflected on another year of life, saying the occasion was not just a celebration of his birthday but of “another year of God’s faithfulness as every experience, every lesson, and every achievement has been a testament to His goodness.”

Looking ahead, the billionaire businessman said he was embracing the new chapter of his life with optimism and renewed faith.