Billionaire industrialist and philanthropist Abdul Samad Rabiu made a rare public appearance over the weekend at the Nikkah ceremony of Rasheedat (Raheeda), daughter of Razaq Okoya, and her groom, Imran Saro Gobir.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, brought together members of Nigeria’s elite business and social circles, marking the union between the Okoya family and the prominent Gobir lineage.
Imran is the son of the late Ambassador Abubakar Garba Gobir, further underscoring the high-profile nature of the gathering.
In a message shared after the event, the major employer of Labour rexpressed admiration for both families and the tone of the ceremony.
“I was truly honored to attend the introduction and Nikkah ceremony of Raheeda, the beloved daughter of Alhaji Rasaq Okoya and Mrs Folasade Okoya, and Imran, the esteemed son of the distinguished Saro and Gobir families,” the founder of high-impact conglomerate, BUA Group stated.
Describing the occasion as “beautiful and memorable,” the definition of commerce noted that it was “filled with warmth, dignity, and a strong sense of family unity,” while commending both families “for upholding such admirable values and for hosting such a gracious and well-organized event.”
He prayed for the couple, wishing them “a lifetime filled with love, peace, happiness, and prosperity,” and that their union be guided by “mutual respect, understanding, and enduring joy.”
The business leader’s appearance adds colour to the talk-of-the town event.
The chairman of BUA Group recently emerged as Africa’s biggest wealth gainer in the 2026 ranking of the continent’s richest individuals, with his fortune surging by 120 percent to $11.2 billion.
The jump was driven largely by the strong performance of BUA Cement, whose shares recorded significant gains over the past year, outpacing broader market performance on the Nigerian Exchange.
The latest ranking places Rabiu third among Africa’s richest individuals, behind Johann Rupert and Aliko Dangote, reinforcing his position among the continent’s leading industrialists.
Beyond business, Rabiu continues to expand his philanthropic footprint through the ASR Africa Initiative, which focuses on education, healthcare, and sustainable development across Africa.
His appearance at the Okoya-Gobir wedding reflects the quiet intersections of Nigeria’s elite business families, where moments of celebration often mirror deeper networks of influence, legacy, and shared values.
Sola Onamodu
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