Leadership names Obaigbena and Rabiu its Persons of the Year 2026
- Leadership Newspapers has picked Nduka Obaigbena of THISDAY and ARISE, and BUA Group's Abdul Samad Rabiu, as its 2026 Persons of the Year.
- The paper says both men were chosen for building institutions, creating jobs and giving back to society.
- A Leadership team formally told Obaigbena of the award on Monday at the ARISE offices in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Leadership Newspapers has named two businessmen as its Persons of the Year 2026: Nduka Obaigbena, who chairs the THISDAY Group and founded ARISE News, and Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group.
The newspaper announced the choice on its cover, saying the pair earned it by building strong institutions, developing talent, investing, creating jobs and giving to charity. It praised them for "building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground" in their fields.
A Leadership team then went to the ARISE News offices in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday to formally inform Obaigbena of the award. The team included the paper's chairman, Mrs Zainab Sam Nda-Isaiah, and its vice chairman and editor-in-chief, Azu Ishiekwene.
Also at the meeting were THISDAY and ARISE News Ombudsman Kayode Komolafe, THISDAY Managing Director Eniola Bello and ARISE News Director of Politics Akin Osuntokun.
Why the two men were picked
For Obaigbena, Leadership pointed to a career that began in 1978 at the Nigerian Observer and grew into a media group. It noted that he started ThisWeek magazine in 1986, at 27, and founded THISDAY in 1995. The paper said THISDAY brought changes to how Nigerian newspapers looked and sold, including colour printing and opening its back page to well-known columnists.
Leadership also listed his moves beyond newspapers: ARISE Magazine, the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festivals, ARISE Fashion Week and, in 2013, the ARISE News television channel. It described the February 2026 launch of Lekeelekee, a social media app built by ARISE Broadcast and THISDAY Media Group, as another step in growing Africa's digital presence. According to the paper, the app passed 100,000 downloads in about six months.
Born in Ibadan on July 14, 1959, Obaigbena studied Creative Arts at the University of Benin. He has served two terms as president of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and was given the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2022.
Rabiu was recognised for BUA Group's investments in manufacturing and local production, which the paper linked to job creation, infrastructure and returns for shareholders. Leadership also cited the philanthropy of both men and said their work has helped build confidence in Nigeria's future.
The paper framed the awards as a nod to the pair's influence on the country's economic and social life. Neither man was quoted in the reports.
