By Onome Amuge
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), a philanthropic establishment founded by Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group, has presented a N2.5 billion tertiary health infrastructure grant to the Sokoto State government.
According to a statement by the corporate social responsibility organisation, the grant is to facilitate construction of the College of Medical Sciences at the Sokoto State University, improve infrastructure at the School of Nursing, Tambuwal, as well as the School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa in Sokoto State.
Speaking at the presentation of the grant and visit to the proposed sites, Aliyu Idi Hong, who represented the ASR Africa founder, commended the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, for his holistic approach and commitment to healthcare development at all levels.
Hong noted that ASR Africa is passionate about social impact and development, especially in the areas of health care delivery, education, social development and sustainable infrastructure, which he described as the pillars of ASR Africa’s vision for African development.
“We are therefore ready and committed to partner serious governments to make critical interventions and sustainable impact in healthcare and development for the benefit of the people,” he added.
Also speaking at the grant presentation,Ubon Udoh, managing director and chief executive officer, ASR Africa, said Sokoto is one of four states that were recently announced as beneficiaries of the ASR Africa Health Systems Support grant of N2.5 billion, with the other states being Kwara, Edo and Ogun States.
In his remarks, Governor Aminu Tambuwal thanked the BUA chairman and ASR Africa initiator for the grant. He expressed confidence that the ASR Africa Initiative healthcare development partnership would have a sustainable impact just as BUA, through its cement holdings, BUA Cement Plc, has become an economic powerhouse in Sokoto State.
“This grant is timely and will enable us to expand the scope of the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital currently under construction. We are committed to working within the ASR Africa Mutual Accountability Framework to deliver these critical healthcare projects promptly in collaboration with ASR Africa,” he stated.
Tambuwal also raised optimism that upon completion, the ASR Africa-funded projects, in addition to other recently completed and ongoing ones, would elevate the state into a major hub for healthcare delivery in the Northern region of Nigeria.
