President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, conferred the 2019/20 National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) on billionaire Industrialist, philanthropist, and founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu.

Rabiu, chairman of BUA Cement Plc and BUA Foods, both listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, was honoured alongside Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace; Otunba Mike Adenuga, chairman of indigenous telecom giant- Gobacom, the country’s second national carrier and NGX listed Conoil Plc; Jim Ovia, founder and chairman of Zenith Bank Plc; and Chinedum Anthony Okereke; in the “Employers of Labour” category.

Speaking after the award ceremony, Abdul Samad Rabiu, expressed his sincere appreciation to the awards jury and President Buhari for finding him worthy of the honour, while reaffirming BUA Group’s commitment to human, economic and social development whilst fostering productive enterprise in Nigeria.

Others honorees include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, former Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chike Ihekweazu; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, for their efforts in the fight to keep the country safe in the heady days of the Coronavirus pandemic, amongst others.

The award, according to a statement by BUA Group, is organized by the National Productivity Centre, an arm of the Federal Government instituted to recognize and honour productive individuals and organizations in Nigeria in the year of the award for achievements made in the three preceding years. The centre was established to improve the quantity and quality of goods and services available for consumption in Nigeria as a means for increasing wealth.