Nigerian billionaire industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu has been recognised because the CEO of the 12 months on the ongoing Africa CEO Discussion board.
He’s among the many six enterprise leaders and corporations that had been honoured on the Africa CEO Awards 2026 in Kigali.
The Founding father of BUA Group, Rabiu leads a significant industrial powerhouse pushed notably by BUA Meals, which recorded revenues of 1.77 trillion naira ($1.3 billion) in 2025, and BUA Cement, whose market capitalization stands at roughly 14.16 trillion naira ($10.3 billion).
“A key determine in Nigeria’s industrial and agricultural sectors, he additionally spearheads important social improvement initiatives via ASR Africa, to which he commits $100 million yearly throughout Nigeria and the continent,” organisers stated.
Those that had been awarded are actively contributing to reshaping Africa’s financial panorama and embodying a management imaginative and prescient pushed by impression and sustainable transformation.
For the 2026 version, the winners had been chosen by an unbiased jury composed of internationally famend consultants, following a rigorous analysis strategy of the continent’s most exceptional candidates.
Others
Cassava Applied sciences
A world expertise chief of African heritage, Cassava Applied sciences is constructing an built-in ecosystem of digital companies and infrastructure to drive the continent’s digital transformation.
By its varied entities — Cassava AI, Liquid Clever Applied sciences, Liquid Cloud & Cyber Safety, Africa Information Centres and Sasai Fintech — the group operates throughout 94 nations and pursues its ambition of turning into a world-class expertise reference born from Africa.
Spiro
Africa’s main electrical mobility firm, Spiro raised a record-breaking USD 150 million between late 2025 and early 2026.
With greater than 80,000 electrical motorbikes, over 2,500 battery swapping stations, and greater than 30 million battery swaps accomplished to this point, Spiro is remodeling mobility and native economies via inexpensive, accessible, and sustainable options.
Supported by its quickly increasing regional manufacturing community and operational meeting vegetation in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda, Spiro is dedicated to delivering electrical automobiles made in Africa, by Africans, for Africa and the world.
Ecobank
Current in 34 sub-Saharan African nations in addition to in Paris, Ecobank continues to pursue an bold technique targeted on girls’s inclusion. Ladies at present signify 48% of the Group’s workforce and 40% of administration positions.
Its flagship Ellevate programme has enabled USD 780 million in financing for women-led companies whereas supporting greater than 103,000 girls entrepreneurs via financing, mentoring, and market entry initiatives.
East African Holding
Based in 1891, East African Holding is amongst Ethiopia’s oldest industrial teams. Led by the Buzuayehu household and at present transitioning into its fourth technology, the group developed the Lemi Industrial Park via a phased $2.2 billion partnership with West Worldwide Holding.
The venture notably features a cement plant producing 4.5 million tons yearly, overlaying greater than half of Ethiopia’s nationwide demand.
Cauridor
By integrating cell cash operators, banks, and worldwide cash switch firms, Cauridor’s platform allows seamless and interoperable cross-border funds. Working throughout 36 African nations, the corporate surpassed USD 1 billion in annual transaction quantity in 2025.
