BUA Group is stepping up its international engagement strategy as it positions Nigeria’s agro-industrial capacity on the global stage, leveraging its prominent participation at the 62nd edition of the Paris International Agricultural Show to advance trade, manufacturing credibility and regional competitiveness.
For the diversified conglomerate, the Paris outing was not merely ceremonial. By participating as a premium sponsor and backing the Nigeria Pavilion, BUA signalled a deliberate push to expand its commercial footprint beyond domestic borders at a time when global food supply chains are undergoing structural realignment.
The annual exhibition, held at Porte de Versailles in France from February 21 to March 1, convenes stakeholders across agriculture, agro-processing, technology, finance and policy. Increasingly, it has become a marketplace for ideas, partnerships and trade flows that influence how nations and corporations secure food systems amid supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainty.
Through BUA Foods, the Group has built substantial processing capacity in flour, pasta, spaghetti, sugar and rice. These categories represent core household consumption items in Nigeria and across West Africa, positioning the company as a critical player in food affordability and supply stability.,
Abioye Ayodele, managing director of BUA Foods,who represented Abdul Samad Rabiu, the company’s executive chairman at the Paris forum, engaged global industry leaders and institutional stakeholders, showcasing the company’s vertically integrated production model. From large-scale milling to branded retail distribution, BUA Foods is emphasising operational depth and quality assurance as competitive strengths.
Rabiu noted that Africa must become an active participant in shaping global food systems rather than remaining a peripheral actor. He underscored the link between food security, industrial growth and economic resilience, arguing that sustained investment in domestic processing capacity is central to long-term competitiveness.
Ayodele stressed that BUA Foods has built scale in staple categories central to consumer demand and that its Paris engagement highlights the fact that Nigerian manufacturing can meet international benchmarks. By presenting its portfolio to global partners, the company aims to strengthen trade relationships and attract institutional collaboration that could enhance efficiency and distribution reach.
“BUA Foods has built scale across key staple categories that are central to household consumption. Our participation at this Show allows us to demonstrate the quality, consistency, and operational strength behind our products. We are engaging global stakeholders with a clear message that Nigerian manufacturing can meet international standards while serving both domestic and regional markets efficiently,” Ayodele said.
Rabiu, the executive chairman, noted that BUA’s presence at the Paris International Agricultural Show reflects the belief that Africa must be an active participant in shaping the future of global food systems.
“We have invested significantly in local production capacity because we understand that food security, industrial growth, and economic resilience are interconnected. Platforms like this allow us to build partnerships that strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness and expand our reach beyond our borders,” he stated.
