Kabiru Rabiu, Group Executive Director of Nigeria’s leading conglomerate, BUA Group, has been ranked second, only after Egyptian, Basil El Baz, on the ‘Choiseul 100 Africa’ list of future African Business Leaders by Institut Choiseul – a renowned French economic and political think-tank based in Paris in partnership with a leading publication, Jeune Afrique.

The 2017 rankings, included only 10 Nigerians and had Rabiu as the only Nigerian in the top 10

The annual compilation by the French Institute is carried out through an original independent study that identifies profiles and ranks young African business leaders under the age of 40 from any of the 54 countries on the continent across various industries who will play a major role in the development of Africa in the near future.

To classify the 100 leaders of tomorrow, the Choiseul Institut, through its panel of experts and specialists uses five sets of criteria: image and reputation, path and skills, power and function, influence and networks, potential and leadership. These ‘Choiseul 100 Africa’ laureates are growing business leaders, successful entrepreneurs, investors, etc., who embody the dynamism and renewal of a whole continent and carry the hopes of an entire generation.

Other Nigerians on the 2017 list include Akinwunmi Akinfemiwa, Group Chief Executive Officer of Forte Oil at number 34and Halima Dangote, daughter of the African richest man, Aliko Dangote and Executive Director of the Dangote Industries at 47th position.

Founded in 1988 by his brother and billionaire industrialist, Abdulsamad Rabiu, BUA Group is one of the largest conglomerates operating in Africa.  The over $5 billion enterprise valued Group engages in the foods and infrastructure spaces in Africa with interests in sugar, rice, cement, port operations, logistics, real estate, steel and oil & gas.

Rabiu joined the family business in 2002 as an Assistant General Manager of Nigerian Oil Mills based in Kano, Nigeria. He rose through the ranks to become the company’s General Manager and later became the Managing Director of BUA Oil Mills, Lagos – then the largest edible oil company in Nigeria.