Society
Abdul Samad Rabiu Is One Nigerian Who Has Really Devoted His Wealth To Uplifting Social Development – Uni Jos V.C Declares
Chairman of the champion across different sectors of the economy, BUA Group
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya has declared that “Abdul Samad Rabiu is someone that we have seen, is one of those very few Nigerians, if not one Nigerian that has really devoted his wealth towards uplifting social development of Nigeria.”
The Vice-Chancellor who spoke during a meeting at his office on Monday, April 22, 2024, added ” I can assure that, I have not heard of any Nigerian who has devoted 100m dollars every year for social development, and that has been going across for many years”.
Professor Ishaya spoke ahead of Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the groundbreaking ceremony for the ultra-modern N250millon Sports Complex donated to the University of Jos by the Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Africa Initiative.
Founded in March 2021, by philanthropist – and Chairman of the champion across different sectors of the economy, BUA Group – Abdul Samad Rabiu, ASR Africa annually gives out $100M to solve development issues in the areas of Health, Education, and Social development in Africa.
The incomparable charity effort by an individual in Africa is said to budget $50 million yearly for Nigeria and $50 million for the rest of the continent.
The University of Jos emerged as one of the twenty-two (22) higher institutions granted N250million tertiary grants each by ASR Africa Initiative after what the Vice Chancellor described as “a very tedious and rigorous selection process”.
Providing insight into how the University scaled through the criteria ASR Africa Initiative Chief Executive Officer, Ubon Udoh identified as including the quality of leadership and management in the school, academic performance, institutional development, and academic development – Professor Ishaya stated that “We had to really passionately make a presentation and defend the position and choice of that sporting facility”.
The Ultra-Modern Sports Compex undergoing construction at the Naraguta Campus of the university will feature a 300-seater spectator stand, changing rooms, a lawn tennis court, and a basketball court.
During the groundbreaking on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the Vice Chancellor affirmed the event as “the culmination of years of hard work and planning by the management of the University of Jos and ASR Africa Initiative”.
Professor Ishaya also highlighted, at the occasion, that the N250m ultra-modern Abdul Samad Rabiu Sports Complex has not just immensely boosted the chances of the University of Jos successfully hosting the Nigeria University Games that is expected to attract an estimated eighty universities, about nine thousand athletes, officials, and spectators to Jos for the first time in the history of the competition – but has also accentuated achieving the Vice Chacellor’s vision of positioning the institution of learning as the arrowhead of sports development in Nigeria with aim of producing more top-flight athletes and Olympic medalists for the country amid the hope of increasing Nigeria’s GDP( gross domestic product ) and provide job opportunities for youth.
Added checks revealed that, aside from the N250million Ultra-Modern Sports Complex, other high-value projects by ASR Africa Initiative across different higher institutions of learning include, the N1B Career Support & Cleaner Energy Solutions Center at University of Ibadan, the N1 billion Naira Abdul Samad Rabiu International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at University of Maiduguri, Ultra-modern Student Affairs Center at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, the N250 million College of Health Sciences Office Block for Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State and the N250million Admin Block and a Conference Room for the Al-Qalam University, Katsina.
