BUA Group's Rabiu Advocates Value Addition at Indaba 2026

At the AFC Mining event during Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group, called for a strategic shift in Africa's development from raw material extraction to value addition. He emphasized the importance of long-term financing from development finance institutions (DFIs) to support this transformation.

Rabiu highlighted BUA Group's experience, noting that sixteen years ago, the company transitioned from cement imports to local production, saving Nigeria billions in foreign exchange. He pointed out that Africa, despite being resource-rich, exports most of its raw materials without processing them, which limits value creation.

Rabiu urged for coordinated efforts among governments, DFIs, and the private sector to incentivize local processing and invest in infrastructure. He stressed that industrialization in Africa requires deliberate policies and patient capital, as the continent continues to import significant amounts of food despite having vast arable land.