The PEARL Awards Nigeria's Board of Governors will honor Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for National Economic Development. The awards will be held in Lagos on 30th November 2025.
Chairman of the Awards, Tayo Orekoya, in a statement signed by Olisemeka Obi, Project Manager of PEARL Awards 2025, disclosed that the Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2020 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of PEARL Awards Nigeria, is conferred once in five years and reserved for outstanding personalities who have made significant contributions to the practical growth and development of the Nigerian economy.
According to Orekoya, the first recipient of this great award was Alhaji Aliko Dangote. The award is to celebrate Rabiyu's remarkable achievements and contributions to the manufacturing sector, the Nigerian capital markets and the country's economy as a whole, through exemplary and visionary leadership, innovative business acumen and excellent human and capital management.
He said that for three decades, PEARL Awards has remained the only awards body in Nigeria that honors cited companies on merit using verifiable, empirical data. Established in 1995, the awards promote healthy competition, transparency, corporate governance and performance among companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). “Now in its 30th year, the awards continue its founding mission to recognize and reward excellence in the capital markets.
Orekoya said the 2025 edition – tagged as the 30th Anniversary Pearl Awards Night – promises to be the grandest yet, with the theme being “celebrating a legacy of corporate excellence.” The event will attract an illustrious gathering of business leaders, regulators, policy makers and captains of industry. Expected dignitaries include senior officials of the federal government; Nigerian Exchange (NGX), headed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), top CEOs of listed companies; Previous award recipients; And iconic icons of the private sector.
This year's award categories include the traditional Regional Leadership Award, the Market Excellence Award and the highly coveted overall highest award – the Pearl of the Nigerian Capital Markets. Special categories such as the Corporate Governance Award, CSR/Sustainability Award and Pearl CEO of the Year Award reflect the broad spectrum of performance and leadership recognized by the awards.
