Abdul Samad Rabiu’s son, Khalifa, joins Nigeria’s wealthy with $271 million BUA Foods stake

In Nigeria’s consumer goods sector, a new name has quietly joined the country’s circle of wealthy business executives. Isyaku Abdulsamad “Khalifa” Rabiu, the son of billionaire industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu, holds a $271 million stake in BUA Foods Plc, reflecting both his deep ties to the company and a deeper role in the business his father built.

Khalifa Rabiu’s position became visible following his appointment as Chief Officer, Global Procurement and Strategic Operations at BUA Foods Plc, effective Jan. 29, 2026. Yet long before stepping into the executive role, he already had a financial foothold in the company. Research by Shore.Africa shows that Khalifa held 473,628,201 ordinary shares of BUA Foods as of Dec. 31, 2025, representing a 2.63 percent stake in the food producer.

Khalifa holds $271 million stake in BUA Foods

At current market prices, that holding places him comfortably among Nigeria’s wealthy business figures. Shares of BUA Foods closed flat today on the Nigerian Exchange at N796.6 ($0.573), giving the company a market capitalization of N14.34 trillion ($10.3 billion). Based on that valuation, Rabiu’s 2.63 percent stake is worth about N377.3 billion ($271.2 million). 

His father, Abdul Samad Rabiu, who ranks as Nigeria’s second-richest person tracking fellow billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, retains a commanding 92.33 percent stake in BUA Foods, a holding valued at more than $9.5 billion, underscoring his dominant ownership of his conglomerate, BUA Group’s flagship consumer goods business.

Driving growth in food, cement, feed

Before his recent appointment, Khalifa worked across projects within the broader BUA Group, leading transformation efforts to strengthen supplier relationships and improve operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Regent’s University London and a master’s in management from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.

His work included helping reintroduce BUA rice to the Nigerian market and overseeing the launch of a 40-metric-tonne-per-hour animal feed mill, an effort designed to expand the company’s presence in the agricultural value chain. He also supervised the rollout of digital platforms across parts of the business, part of an effort to modernize operations.

His new position comes at an important moment for BUA Foods. The company is entering a phase where it aims to move from consolidation to more disciplined growth, placing a stronger focus on procurement efficiency and supply chain stability. Within the company, executives say Rabiu’s experience in procurement and operational management will support efforts to improve supply chains, manage costs, and deliver value to customers and shareholders.

BUA Foods profit rises to $366.6 million

In his new role at BUA Foods, Khalifa Rabiu will oversee global procurement, leading initiatives to optimize costs, strengthen supply chain resilience, and support long-term growth. His experience spans multiple sectors within the group’s industrial base, including food production, cement manufacturing, and animal feed, equipping him to navigate operational challenges.

The company he now helps oversee is reporting strong financial results. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, BUA Foods posted a profit of N507.7 billion ($366.6 million), nearly doubling the N266 billion ($192.7 million) recorded a year earlier.

Revenue climbed to N1.8 trillion ($1.29 billion) from N1.52 trillion ($1.1 billion), buoyed by robust sales of sugar, pasta, and rice, alongside tighter cost control measures. Total assets reached N1.38 trillion ($990 million), retained earnings rose to N694.7 billion ($500 million), and shareholders’ equity expanded to N702.8 billion ($507 million).