N1tr Grant: ASR Africa Begins ICT Hub, Student Affairs Building Construction In UNIBEN

Caption: Ubon Udoh, Managing Director, ASR Africa (Right), Professor Lilian Salami, Vice Chancellor, University of Benin (2nd Right), and other management staff of ASR Africa and UNIBEN during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an ICT building and a student Affairs Building at the University of Benin. 

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) – the brainchild of Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an Information & Communication Technology (ICT), and a Student Affairs Buildings at the University of Benin, Edo State.

This, the NGO said, is in fulfillment of the N1bn tertiary infrastructure grant awarded to the institutions in July 2021 as part of ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grants Scheme drawn from ASR Africa’s $100m Fund for Social Development and Renewal.

Performing the groundbreaking ceremony at the Ugbowo campus of the institution, Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa, applauded the management of the university for its prompt response in identifying projects within the ASR Africa project assessment and mutual accountability framework and committing to ensuring its take-off.

He added that Abdul Samad Rabiu, through the ASR Africa Initiative, is committed to giving back to society and bridging developmental gaps in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to Ubon, “the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative was founded by Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Chairman of BUA Group to tackle urgent development needs in key areas within Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. Since our inauguration in 2021, ASR Africa has invested massively in sustainable education, health, and infrastructure development projects across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa”.

Caption: Cross section of Ubon Udoh, Managing Director, ASR Africa (8th Left), and Professor Lilian Salami, Vice Chancellor, University of Benin (9th Left), and other management staff of ASR Africa and UNIBEN at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an ICT building and a student Affairs Building at the University of Benin.

“Last year, we were here to announce the award of a N1bn infrastructure grant and, today we are here to begin construction…”

Both projects, he noted, “are key to the university community and we are committed to ensuring that they are completed in the shortest possible time so they can be put to adequate use for the benefit of the student community, and society in general.”

Reacting, Professor Lilian Salami, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, appreciated ASR Africa and its chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for its commitment to the project and the goodwill demonstrated towards her administration and the students of University of Benin. Professor Salami said the projects will enable the university to be more functional, improve the outlook of the institution, and groom students to be more useful to society.