A deep pocket, an intellectual heft honed at the London School of Economics and Harvard University and a second name that drips old but solid money, Kabiru Rabiu, the Managing Director of BUA Group, is a multiple threat potential anywhere in the world. Dashing, adventurous and fun-loving, Kabiru has access to everything that makes the world a small, interconnected, easily navigable and enjoyable village. And he has made the world his oyster by living it up largely and as some naysayers might say, lavishly.
But Kabiru has no apologies about the life bestowed on him by fate and parentage. He is the son of Isyaku Rabiu, one of the richest and most influential businessmen in northern Nigeria in the 1970s and 80s. The Rabiu patriarch, owner of the defunct IRS Airlines, died in 2018. In his absence, Kabiru has another father in Abdulsamad, his illustrious billionaire brother who is the founder/chairman of the BUA Group, a massive conglomerate playing big in a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, shipping, port concessions, real estate and agricultural and industrial chemicals among others. Kabiru holds the forte for Samad at work while he strives to carve his own niche in high society circle where Samad is a Lord of the Manor.
No doubt, Kabiru is, gradually coming into his own as a fun-loving young man who knows the de rigueur of elite and aristocratic living. The father of two beautiful girls never flies commercial; it is either ‘privately’ or nothing. And when he wants to let his hairs down, he knows the swankiest restaurants, beach islands and world capitals to visit. Associates of Kabiru say despite his devotion to family and the growth of BUA Group, he never compromises his fun which is why he spends more time in the air than on the land and outside the country than inside. The young man is also not shy to let the world know how blessed and buoyant he is as he always shows off his lavish lifestyle to his social media followers and friends.
Until sometime last year when Kabiru emerged as the best African economic leader under the age of 40, not many people really paid attention to him. Kabiru, who oversees operations of Bua Group’s diverse business interests, topped the rank of 100 CEOs and bureaucrats surveyed from across the continent. Tagged ‘100 Africa Economic Leaders for Tomorrow’, the Choiseul 100 Africa showcases the men and women who, through their dynamism and belief in what the future holds, are taking Africa with them on the path to success.
The Choiseul Africa 100 is endorsed and supported by the Societe Generale, Deloitte, Chargeurs, Vyes Rocher, Vicat, Ronald Berger, Forbes Africa and other key economic intelligence organisations.
As he turns 40 today, Kabiru posted on his active Instagram page, “As I clock 40, I could not ask for a more blessed and fulfilled life. Alhamdulillah! May the Almighty multiply our blessings and make us witness the next 40years and beyond in good health and peace of mind. Ameeen.”
