Society
How Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative’s N250M Project Will Help Peace-Building In Plateau
“at least, 4,486 have been killed in the endless violence”
As of Monday, February 5, 2024, a report published by Premiumtimes.ng revealed that “at least, 4,486 have been killed in the endless violence between different ethnic groups in Plateau State since 1994”.
The raging crisis in Plateau state said to have roots in the rivalry between indigenes and non-indigenes has been on for as long as many can remember.
In the face of different efforts to find solutions to the unending troubles, Professor Tanko Ishaya – the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, located in Plateau state – has revealed how the Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Africa Initiative is contributing to peace – building in the state.
ASR Africa initiative, founded in March 2021 with a yearly set aside of $100m for delivering sustainable development in Health, Education, and Social development in Africa, has donated a N250million ultra-modern sports complex to the University of Jos.
Speaking on the major gains of the ultra-modern Abdul Samad Rabiu Sports Complex, a day before the Tuesday, April 23, 2024, groundbreaking ceremony at the Naraguta Campus of the University, Vice Chancellor Yanko Ishaya explained that ” it is a center of unity, Sports is a center of unity as far as this country is concerned. And what this management wants to build as far as this University is concerned is not just only to build unity within the University but to provide a facility that will bring unity in Jos, plateau, and its environs, and we believe that, that is going to come through by the grace of God”.
Professor Ishaya made the revelation in a meeting with the ASR Africa Initiative’s management team led by Chief Executive Officer Ubon Udoh.
It is logical that Unity in the state will automatically end the crisis and associated killings.
The information available revealed that the N250m ultra-modern Abdul Samad Rabiu Sports Complex will boast a 300-seater spectator stand, changing rooms, a lawn tennis court, and a basketball court when completed.
Added information has it that, the high-value project is also earmarked to play a pivotal role in the successful hosting of the Nigeria University Games (otherwise known as NUGA games) which 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 as well as actualizing the Vice Chancellor and his management’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.
The N250million Ultra-Modern Sports Complex is one of the many high impact projects across different universities by ASR Africa Initiative including, 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.
