The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASRi) has announced the donation of a N2.5-billion ($4.8 million) tertiary health infrastructure grant to Sokoto State to construct the College of Medical Sciences at Sokoto State University.
The latest grant was presented by the billionaire industrialist and founder of the initiative, Abdul Samad Rabiu, to Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
The grant also covers infrastructure at the School of Nursing, Tambuwal, and the School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa.
During the ceremony at the statehouse, the billionaire received the proposed design for the projects and noted that the ASRi is proud to complement Sokoto State’s healthcare delivery efforts at the primary and secondary levels.
Commenting, Tambuwal said the funding is timely and will enable the state to expand the scope of its university teaching hospital, which is 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 added.
Also commenting at the ceremony, ASRi CEO and Managing Director Ubon Udoh said Sokoto is one of four states announced recently as beneficiaries of ASRi Africa Health Systems Support grants of N2.5billion ($4.8 million), with the other states being Kwara, Edo and Ogun.
“We expect to deploy resources to commence work in Sokoto as soon as possible,” Ubon said.
ASRi
The ASRi is the philanthropic arm of BUA Group, a Nigeria-based conglomerate founded by Rabiu.
It is an annual $100-million Africa fund for social development and renewal, established in March to provide sustainable, impact-based homegrown solutions to developmental issues in Africa’s health, education, and social development.
Rabiu is Africa’s sixth wealthiest man.