“8 Years After, Time Has Not Dimmed Your Presence” — Abdul Samad Rabiu On Father, Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu

Eight years after the passing of elder statesman, renowned businessman and philanthropist Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu, his son, Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group, says the memory, values and spiritual influence of his father remain as powerful today as ever.

In an emotional tribute released in remembrance of the late patriarch, the philanthropist described his father as the moral compass whose life of faith, integrity and service continues to shape not only his family but also the principles behind one of Africa’s largest business empires.

“Eight years have passed, yet time has not dimmed your presence—it has only deepened it,” the role model for good business practice said.

“Your life, so purposeful and impactful, remains etched in our hearts and continues to shape the way we live, give, and carry forward the values you instilled in us,” he added.

The billionaire industrialist said his father’s teachings on faith, purpose and integrity became the foundation upon which he and his siblings built their lives.

“You taught us how to live—with faith, purpose, and integrity. Much of who we are today is because of you. Your guidance, strength, and quiet mentorship continue to shape our lives in ways words cannot fully express,” one of Nigeria’s biggest employers of labour disclosed.

Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu, one of northern Nigeria’s most respected businessmen and Islamic leaders, was widely admired for his deep devotion to Islam, disciplined entrepreneurship and philanthropy. His influence extended beyond commerce into faith, community building and family legacy.

Reflecting on that influence, the esteemed Nigerian noted that his father’s quiet strength and selflessness touched countless lives.

“You lived with quiet strength and profound selflessness, touching countless lives with kindness, compassion, and grace,” the king of commerce stated, adding “Your devotion to Almighty Allah and to Islam was steadfast and exemplary. Yours was a life anchored in faith, sincerity, and higher purpose—one that continues to inspire us every day.”

Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and executive chairman of BUA Group, has emerged as one of Africa’s most influential industrialists, overseeing a conglomerate with major interests in cement, sugar, foods, infrastructure and manufacturing.

Under his leadership, BUA Group has recorded significant profitability and expansion, positioning itself as one of Nigeria’s leading manufacturing giants and a major contributor to economic growth.

His rise in global wealth rankings — placing him in top bracket of Africa’s richest men and recently listed as the continent’s second richest in Forbes rankings — has further amplified the values that shaped his journey.

Observers often point to his father’s discipline, spiritual grounding and business philosophy as central to the BUA Chairman ’s leadership model.

Beyond business, Rabiu’s philanthropic footprint through ASR Africa has become one of the largest privately funded charitable interventions on the continent, with billions committed to health, education, social development and institutional support across Africa.

For the business leader , however, those achievements are not merely corporate milestones but an extension of a legacy inherited from his father.

“As your children, we remain committed to upholding your principles, honoring your name, and preserving the legacy you built with dignity and meaning,” he said., emphasising “We carry you with us, always.”

He prayed for Allah’s eternal mercy upon his father, with the words “We pray that Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, grants you the highest station in Al Jannah Firdaus, envelops you in His Noor, and grants you eternal peace.”

In life and in death, Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu’s legacy appears firmly preserved — not only in memory, but in the industrial, philanthropic and moral architecture his son continues to build.

And, eight years later, his son and Africa giant – Abdul Samad Rabiu – declares, time has not dimmed his father’s presence; it has only made it brighter.