By Ralph Tathagata

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, 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.

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.