The Nigerian Police Force has become the latest beneficiary of the philanthropic gesture of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), a philanthropic organisation founded by Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and chairman of BUA Group, with the donation and handing over of a newly built 150-bed hospital in Abuja, the country’s capital.
The corporate social responsibility organisation said the ASR Africa Police National Reference Hospital, Abuja, developed at a cost of N4 billion with funding drawn from the annual $100 million ASR Africa fund for social development and renewal, is the first donation of its kind to the Nigerian Police.
Speaking at the physical handover of the hospital building to Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abdul Samad Rabiu said that the hospital project was conceived out of the desire to provide the best healthcare services and facilities for the nation’s security operatives.
The ASR Africa police hospital, he noted, will bring qualitative healthcare closer to the people that protect lives and properties in the country, as well as other Nigerians who will also be able to utilize the facility.
Usman Alkali Baba who received the original certificate of occupancy from the representatives of ASR Africa, commended the philanthropic work of the founder of BUA Group.
The IGP also mentioned that the ASR Africa Police National Hospital was conceived, completed, and built to standard in record time without any hitch.
“We are really grateful to ASR Africa and Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu for this first-of-a-kind donation of a mega hospital to the Police. It is heartwarming to know that there are patriotic individuals like Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu who are genuinely interested in providing support for the thousands of policemen, women, and their families through initiatives such as this,” he remarked.
Commenting on the activities of the ASR Africa Initiative, Ubon Udoh, managing director/CEO of ASR Africa, said that various grants have been awarded to educational institutions, health facilities, governments as well as non-governmental organisations as part of ASR Africa’s contributions to sustainable development in Africa.
He explained that the establishment of ASR Africa was backed by a $100 million annual fund set aside for various interventions in health, education and social development.
“Within nine months, we have shown how passionate we are about social impact and development especially in the areas of health care delivery, education, social development, and sustainable infrastructure across the country and Africa,” he added.
