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BUA Foods Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading food manufacturing giants owned by billionaire industrialist and billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu, has announced a key executive appointment as part of its strategy to deepen operational efficiency and accelerate long-term growth.
The company, widely regarded as one of the most valuable firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange, continues to strengthen its leadership structure to support expansion across its core product lines.
The company confirmed that Isyaku Abdulsamad “Khalifa” Rabiu has been appointed Chief Officer for Global Procurement and Strategic Operations, effective January 29, 2026. In this role, he will oversee the company’s global sourcing activities while spearheading initiatives aimed at reducing costs, improving efficiency, and reinforcing supply-chain resilience across all business units.
His appointment comes at a time when BUA Foods is transitioning from a consolidation phase into what it describes as a period of disciplined and scaled growth, especially within its key segments: flour, pasta, rice, and animal feed.
Track record within the BUA ecosystem
Before this promotion, "Khalifa" Rabiu served as Director of Special Operations at BUA Group, where he led transformation projects across multiple sectors, including food, cement, and animal feed.
His work focused on strengthening supplier partnerships, enhancing procurement systems, and boosting operational performance.
He also played a strategic role in raw-material sourcing, particularly wheat procurement, and was instrumental in establishing a 40-metric-tonne-per-hour animal feed mill.
In addition, he contributed to the commercial relaunch of BUA rice in Nigeria and supervised the rollout of proprietary digital platforms across BUA Foods’ operations.
Food manufacturers in Nigeria have faced mounting pressure in recent years due to volatile foreign-exchange rates, rising input costs, and persistent logistics challenges. These factors have made supply chain management a central pillar of corporate strategy, pushing companies to secure stable raw-material sources and optimise procurement frameworks to protect profit margins and maintain production stability.
Khalifa Rabiu said he intends to develop more agile and sustainable procurement systems that align with the company’s long-term ambitions.
“I am excited to assume this role at such a pivotal time in BUA Foods’ growth journey,” he stated. “I look forward to driving procurement and operational strategies that support the company’s long-term objectives.”
Rabiu holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Regent’s University London and a master’s degree in management from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, credentials that complement his experience in strategic operations and corporate transformation.
