Nigerian billionaire industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu, the chairman of BUA Group, has recouped some of the financial losses he suffered in 2023 as his fortune surged past the $5.5-billion mark, solidifying his position as Nigeria’s second-richest man and one of Africa’s richest billionaires.
According to data tracked by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which monitors the wealth of the world’s most affluent individuals, Rabiu has seen his net worth surge by $150 million over the last seven days, from $5.39 billion to $5.54 billion, equating to an average daily gain of $21.43 million since Sept. 29.
The recent bump in Rabiu’s fortune can be attributed to the outstanding performance of his publicly traded companies on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), most notably the remarkable growth in the market value of his holdings in BUA Foods.
BUA Foods is the consolidated food business arm of the BUA Group, encompassing subsidiaries such as BUA Sugar Refinery Limited, BUA Oil Mills Limited, IRS Flour, IRS Pasta, and BUA Rice Limited. Rabiu, who also serves as the chairman of BUA Foods, owns 99.8 percent of the food conglomerate.
With his fortune pegged at $5.54 billion, Rabiu now claims the 444th spot on the global list of the wealthiest individuals. In Nigeria, he stands as the second-richest man, trailing only behind Aliko Dangote, who continues to retain his position as the richest person on the African continent.
The recent bump in Rabiu’s wealth underscores his exceptional business acumen and serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Nigeria’s top-tier entrepreneurs in the face of economic challenges.
As he continues to steer the BUA Group toward new heights, Rabiu’s financial trajectory remains a compelling narrative in the ever-evolving landscape of African wealth. Going by Bloomberg’s figures, Rabiu’s stake in BUA Foods has surged by $140 million, climbing from $4.27 billion as of Sept. 29 to $4.41 billion as of writing.
