“Every Meeting An MBA!” — O’tega Ogra In Profound Tribute To BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu

Presidential spokesperson O’tega Ogra has paid glowing tribute to Chairman of BUA Group and Founder of ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, CON, CFR, describing him as a mentor, father figure and leader whose influence shaped his career and leadership philosophy.

In a birthday message to the businessman, Ogra reflected on the nearly 10 years he worked closely with Rabiu at BUA Group, saying the experience transformed him professionally and personally.

“Today, I celebrate a man I had the privilege of working with most closely for the better part of a decade: the 2026 Africa CEO of the Year, Chairman of BUA Group and Founder of ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu,” he wrote.

Ogra recalled joining BUA Group in 2015 as Director of Corporate Communications after careers in international development and banking, saying he was entering the unfamiliar terrain of manufacturing with responsibility for brand management, corporate and strategic communications, corporate social responsibility, marketing, executive profiling and public relations across the conglomerate and its subsidiaries.

According to him, the champion of commerce gave him the opportunity every young executive hopes for but rarely experiences.

“Chairman Rabiu did something every young executive hopes for but few experience. He gave me access, room to think, room to build, room to make decisions and be accountable for them, room to grow, fly, and achieve,” the President of the Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) revealed.

He described the BUA chairman as “demanding when excellence was required, patient when lessons had to be learnt, and unwavering in his belief that people perform best when they are trusted.”

Ogra added that Rabiu combined “empathy with discipline in a way that shaped not only my career but also my understanding of leadership.”

Drawing a comparison between Rabiu and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogra said both leaders shared similar leadership qualities.

“Like my current principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Chairman always led from the front. Vision was never in short supply. Neither was courage or capacity to execute,” Ogra, who also sits on the executive committee of the World advertising body narrated.

He said every interaction with Rabiu became a learning opportunity.

“Every conversation became a lesson. Every assignment felt like one executive MBA class after another. Every challenge came with the confidence that you could solve it. And solve many, we did!,” the senior presidential aide deepened insight.

Describing the BUA Chairman as more than an employer, Ogra declared: “To me, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu is my Chairman, a father figure, and a mentor. His influence on my life and career extends far beyond the confines of the workplace, and I will always be grateful for his confidence, guidance, and unwavering support.”

He also thanked the business leader for the opportunities and mentorship he received over the years, saying “Thank you for the confidence you placed in me, for the opportunities, the guidance, the countless strategy sessions and lessons regardless of where we were across the world, and for genuinely caring about the people fortunate enough to work with you.”

Ogra wished the African giant many more years of good health, wisdom, fulfilment and continued impact in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.