Why Rabiu, Obaigbena Deserve LEADERSHIP’s Top Honour – Garba Shehu

The chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and media mogul Prince Nduka Obaigbena deserve LEADERSHIP’s 2026 ‘Men of the Year’ award for their outstanding contributions to philanthropy, nation-building, journalism and institution-building, former presidential spokesman Garba Shehu has said.

Shehu, in an article with the title, ‘LEADERSHIP Man of the Year: Why Abdul Samad, Nduka Matter,’ said the two Nigerians had distinguished themselves in their respective fields, leaving lasting footprints in business, social development and the media.

According to him, Rabiu’s transformation of BUA Group into a major global conglomerate, coupled with his extensive philanthropic interventions, makes him deserving of the honour.

Shehu described Rabiu, who was born on August 4, 1960, as “a name that goes far beyond the boardroom”, noting that his influence extends from corporate Nigeria to communities and institutions across the country and the African continent.

As chairman of BUA Group and executive chairman of BUA Foods, Rabiu has overseen the expansion of the group into one of Nigeria’s leading business conglomerates. BUA Foods has also emerged as Nigeria’s most capitalised company, with its share price put at approximately N760.60 and its market capitalisation at about N13.69 trillion.

Shehu noted that Rabiu’s stature in business has been matched by his commitment to philanthropy.

“In 2021, he launched the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, ASR Africa, with an annual pledge of $100 million; $50 million for Nigeria and $50 million for the rest of Africa,” he said.

Shehu described the initiative as the largest private philanthropic giving of its kind by an individual on the continent.

Through ASR Africa, Rabiu has supported major interventions in education, healthcare and other critical sectors. Among the projects highlighted by Shehu are a N310 million hostel at the Federal University of Technology, Minna; a N1 billion learning facility at the University of Ilorin; and a N1 billion integrated agriculture centre at Bayero University, Kano.

In healthcare, Shehu said ASR Africa funded a N2.5 billion teaching hospital at Akwa Ibom State University and another N2.5 billion oncology and diagnostic centre in Ilorin.

The foundation also constructed a N2 billion Nigerian Navy medical centre in the Federal Capital Territory and a 150-bed police hospital in Abuja.

Rabiu further donated N5 billion to the IBB National Library project.

“Abdul Samad’s philanthropy is a beacon of hope for millions. To Nigerians, he personifies kindness, purpose, and institution-building. He is Nigeria’s, indeed Africa’s, philanthropic giant,” Shehu said.

He also recalled Rabiu’s $500,000 donation to the Super Eagles following their performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, saying the gesture demonstrated his willingness to support national causes beyond his corporate interests.

For Obaigbena, Shehu said his claim to the honour rests on decades of taking risks, building media institutions and expanding Nigeria’s influence in global journalism.

“He matters for shaping and continuing to shape different eras in Nigerian journalism,” Shehu said.

He traced Obaigbena’s media journey from TheWeek to ThisDay, Arise International TV and his latest venture, Lekeelekee, which he described as the first global social media platform built out of Africa.

Shehu recalled his encounter with Obaigbena during the early days of TheWeek, when the media entrepreneur demonstrated the risk-taking spirit that would later define his career.

“Our host, Nduka Obaigbena, shoved aside the issue, saying we are all taking a risk, there is nothing to lose,” Shehu recalled.

Although TheWeek eventually folded, Shehu said Obaigbena turned the setback into the foundation for a larger media enterprise by establishing ThisDay.

ThisDay subsequently became Nigeria’s first all-colour newspaper, while Arise TV expanded Obaigbena’s media influence beyond Nigeria, becoming known for watchdog journalism, high-profile interviews and international coverage.

Shehu said Obaigbena’s contribution goes beyond individual media titles, describing his ability to establish and manage major media institutions as one of his defining achievements.

He also noted that Obaigbena had served as president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and chairman/patron of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO).

“In this growing communications empire, Nduka must be credited with a rare ability to create and manage this world-class media empire,” Shehu stated.

The two awardees, according to Shehu, represent different but complementary dimensions of leadership.

While Rabiu has deployed his wealth and corporate success to support education, healthcare, infrastructure, sports and other social causes, Obaigbena has used journalism and media entrepreneurship to inform citizens, challenge authority and build institutions.

“Rabiu uses wealth to uplift millions, while Obaigbena builds institutions that inform the public and hold power to account,” Shehu said.

The LEADERSHIP 2026 ‘Men of the Year’ honour therefore recognises not only their individual achievements but also the broader impact of their leadership on Nigerian society, according to Shehu.”