The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, in conjunction with the Akwa Ibom State Government, on Wednesday flagged off construction of the State University Teaching Hospital as part of a N5bn ASR Africa Health Infrastructure Grant,
A statement by the initiative said N2.5bn was disbursed immediately to commence construction.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom appreciated the ASR Africa initiative and its Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu for the “first tranche of N2.5billion from the ASR Africa Initiative and today’s groundbreaking ceremony, coming just two weeks after the N5bn grant was announced.”
While promising to ensure that the grant is put to good use, he said the swift commencement of work “signposts the seriousness we attach to delivering a teaching hospital that would be a model for others and one Nigeria would be proud of.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa said the gesture as part of ASR Africa’s $100m Annual Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal, was to align with the government’s developmental plans for the people of the state
“This project, in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government, will be implemented and monitored fully in line with the ASR Africa Mutual Accountability Framework.”, Udoh said.
According to Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, who represented the founder of ASR Africa, said: “We have been across the length of the state and we have seen the different developmental projects done by the state government in Primary and Secondary healthcare, especially in the areas of infrastructure, are referral system, health, education and human capacity development.
“What the ASR Africa initiative is simply doing is filling in the gaps and joining the government in delivering comprehensive healthcare to the people. We believe that this hospital will go a long way in boosting the healthcare system of the state, whilst encouraging research and training a new generation of healthcare practitioners,” he added.
The ASR Africa Initiative was established by African industrialist, philanthropist and founder of Nigeria’s BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and seeks to support sustainable development initiatives in Health, Education and Social Development within Nigeria and the rest of Africa through its annual $100 million dollars ‘Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal’.
Photo caption: From left, O’tega Ogra, Group Head Corporate Communications BUA, Udoh Ubon, Managing Director, ASR Africa and Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, representative of Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder, ASR Africa Initiative presenting the first tranche of the N5bn ASR Africa health & social development grant to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital.
