AbdulSamad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, has been re-appointed as President of the France Nigeria Business Council by President Emmanuel Macron of France.
This was announced at the July 2022 Meeting of the France Nigeria Business Council held in Paris.
Addressing the council, Mr Rabiu thanked members for coming, saying that it was a personal honour for him to be a part of the France Nigeria Business Council.
Mr Rabiu added that it was also a privilege to serve as the pioneer President of the Council which was inaugurated just over a year ago and now, be reappointed as President.
He also thanked President Macron for his support and, for reappointing him as well as Jean Haas of Relais (France) as President of the Council, and Head of the Secretariat respectively.
Speaking further, Mr Rabiu appreciated the progress made by the Council since its inauguration and the commitment of members, despite slow global recovery, in pushing forward with various partnerships.
These 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.
Mr Rabiu also encouraged members of the council to keep seeking partnership opportunities, whilst planning, working together and adding value to each other.
According to him, by doing so, successes already being created can be escalated for the mutual economic benefit of Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and, France – a global economic leader.
It is also expected that Rabiu’s current tenure will see to the creation of working sub-committees and sectoral groups to enhance the council’s effectiveness.
The France Nigeria Business 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 and on the Nigerian side, Dr Mike Adenuga of Globacom & Conoil, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank, Gilbert Chagoury of Chagoury Group, Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group, Tony Elumelu of UBA, Heirs Holdings and Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank Group, Dr. Philip Mshelbila of NLNG, Sen. Daisy Danjuma of Sapetro and May & Baker, and Abdul Samad Rabiu of BUA Group & the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) who is the current president.
