BUA MD, Abioye, Set to Deliver Keynote Address at Industry Summit

The Managing Director of BUA Foods Plc, Dr. Ayodele Musibau Abioye, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Industry Summit, themed: ‘The Year of the Real Sector’.

In a statement released and made available to the media yesterday by the Industry Newspaper, the organisers of the event said, “Dr. Abioye, a distinguished business leader and engineer with over 30 years of experience in business and manufacturing engineering, will deliver a paper on the topic “Unlocking Value: BUA Foods’ Role in Transforming Nigeria’s Real Sector Through Innovation and Sustainability.”

The 7th edition of the Industry Summit/Awards is scheduled to be held on Friday, April 17th, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The organisers also revealed the panelists for this year’s event to include: Adeola Amosun, Group Media Manager at Tolaram, Abisoye Oruye, Media Manager- Nigeria at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Henry Ononiwu, Chief Marketing Officer at PHD Nigeria, and Oluwaponmile Alabi, Marketing Manager-RTS, Guinness Nigeria.

Others are Godfrey Adejumoh, Head of Corporate Relations at Diageo West & Central Africa, Sylvester Nwanze, National Trade Marketing & Strategy at UAC Foods, Olusegun Akinyemiju, Head of White & Spirits (MSS Category), Guinness Nigeria, and Gift Uche-Ewule, Brand Manager at Godrej Consumer Products.

Goddie Ofose, the Convener of the Industry Summit/Awards, said, “Dr. Abioye is a results-driven leader with proven expertise in operations, manufacturing, supply chain management, and business development, with a track record of consistently delivering growth and profitability.”

Dr. Abioye joined BUA Group as Chief Operating Officer in 2021 to oversee the company’s diverse food businesses and was subsequently appointed Managing Director of BUA Foods Plc. Under his leadership, the business has grown to become a leading entity in the Nigerian and African food sector.

His previous roles include General Manager at Seven-Up Bottling Company, Country Technical Director at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Regional Supply Chain Director with Nigerian Bottling Co. Ltd, Country Head of Supply Chain at Frigoglass Ltd, Dansa Foods Ltd., and Chief Operating Officer for Secure ID Ltd, amongst others.

Ofose said, “He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Technology from the University of Ilorin, a Master’s degree in Engineering Management, and a PhD in Manufacturing Engineering – both from the University of Benin. He has extensive professional training and exposure locally and internationally across the United States of America, Europe, and South Africa. He is a registered engineer with the Nigerian Society of Engineers and COREN and also an advisory board member of the University of Ilorin’s Food Engineering Department.

Ayodele Abioye is passionate about business strategy execution for growth, leadership and governance, internal control, waste reduction, sustainability, and associates’ development,” he added.

This year’s event would be chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investments, Senator John Owan Enoh, while Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on New Media and Digital Communications, O’tega Ogra, and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, would grace the event as special guests.

CITAD Launches Education Drive for Fulani Herders to Tackle Insecurity

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has flagged off the distribution of educational materials to Fulani pupils as part of its effort to curb insecurity in the country.

In his speech at the ceremony held at Bakin Kamanda Nomadic School in Danshoshiya community, Kiru Local Government Area, the Executive Director of CITAD, Dr. Yunusa Yau, said the gesture aimed to support education in hard-to-reach rural communities, particularly among Fulani nomads.

He described lack of education as a major factor contributing to insecurity, stressing that supporting education would help reduce involvement in criminal activities.

According to Ya’u, encouraging school attendance among the pupils requires providing basic learning needs such as uniforms, books, and pencils.

“We supported the pupils with 100 uniforms today, it is no longer news that many individuals engaged in banditry and other crimes are linked to lack of education. Supporting education will help curb insecurity,” he added.

The Executive Director called on government and relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts in supporting schools across the state, especially in underserved communities.

He assured that CITAD would sustain such interventions within its capacity, noting that a similar exercise had earlier been carried out in Sumaila Local Government Area. He added that the organisation remains committed to supporting communities while drawing government attention to areas in need of intervention.

Ealier In his remarks, the Village Head of Dangora, Yusuf Harisu, who represented the District Head of Kiru, urged parents to prioritise their children’s education.

He emphasised that while Islamic education remains important, Western education is equally vital for Fulani nomadic children, as it equips them to better support their families and avoid social vices.

On his part, the Deputy Director of Nomadic Education at the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board, Ghali Sulaiman, commended CITAD for the initiative, noting that he had not witnessed such an intervention in the school since its establishment.