Caption: From Right: Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, exchanging pleasantries with Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
President Emmanuel Macron of France has reappointed Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and chairman of BUA Group, one of Africa’s largest foods, mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure companies, as President of the France Nigeria Business Council.
This was announced at the July 2022 meeting of the council in Paris.
While appreciating the council, Abdul Samad Rabiu, described the reappointment as a personal honour and also a privilege to serve as the pioneer President of the Council inaugurated just over a year ago.
He also thanked President Macron for his support and, and reappointing him as well as Jean Haas of Relais (France) as President of the Council, and Head of the Secretariat respectively.
A statement by the council quoted Rabiu as praising the progress made by the council since its inauguration and the commitment of members, despite the slow global recovery, in pushing forward with various partnerships.
These, he noted, include plans by some of Nigeria’s biggest banks to set up subsidiaries in France, and BUA’s partnership with Axens of France to build a 200,000bpd refinery in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria amongst other key projects by members.
Rabiu also encouraged members of this council to keep exploring partnership opportunities, whilst planning, working together and adding value to each other so that successes already being created can be escalated for the mutual economic benefit of Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and, France – a global economic leader.
Expectations are that Rabiu’s current tenure will see the creation of working sub-committees and sectoral groups to enhance the council’s effectiveness.
said the council brings together the top businesses in Nigeria and France with a goal of improving business relations between Nigeria and France whilst ensuring routine cooperation that will bring about immense economic benefits for both countries.
French members of the council include the Global Chief Executives of Total Energies, Dassault, Axens, Accor, CMA, amongst others, while the Nigerian side has Dr Mike Adenuga of telecommunications giant- Globacom and petroleum productions major- Conoil Plc; Jim Ovia, founder and chairman of Zenith Bank Plc; Gilbert Chagoury of Chagoury Group; Aliko Dangote, founder and chief executive of Dangote Group; Tony Elumelu, chairman of the United Bank for Africa Plc, Transcorp Plc, Heirs Holdings and Tony Elumelu Foundation; Herbert Wigwe, chief executive of Access Holdings Plc; Dr. Philip Mshelbila of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG); Sen. Daisy Danjuma of Sapetro and May & Baker Plc; and Abdul Samad Rabiu of BUA Group and the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa).
