Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
The AbdulSamad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the philanthropic initiative of the Chairman of BUA Group, AbdulSamad Rabiu, has kicked off the construction of the N250 million sports complex for the University of Jos.
The sporting facility will be situated at the university’s Naraguta Campus and will be named after the businessman. It is to consolidate the university’s preparedness to host the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) games.
The complex will feature a 300-seater spectator stand, changing rooms, a lawn tennis court, and a basketball court.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Tanko Ishaya commended the Chairman of ASR Africa, for the critical facility intervention.
He noted that at the time of the institution’s nomination by ASR Africa for the project, the university management was worried about sourcing for funds to meet up with its nomination as the host university for NUGA.
He added that with the ASR Africa grant, the university was positioned to host more games during the tournament.
The vice chancellor noted that the university signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Sports University in South Korea to develop a comprehensive sports programme to harness the talents that abound across the country in the various fields of sports and the complex would be a business boost to implement the agreement.
The Managing Director of ASR Initiative for Africa, Dr. Ubon Udoh, applauded the management of the University of Jos for being an outstanding institution.
He added that all of the universities who are beneficiaries of the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme were selected based on some stringent criteria which include the quality of leadership, and the academic excellence at the university, amongst others.
Udoh assured the university of the speedy completion of the project ahead of NUGA games and reiterated the commitment of the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa to supporting the education sector in Nigeria and Africa as a whole by providing indigenous solutions.
ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Rabiu, which was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, home-grown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.
Also speaking on behalf of the University of Jos Sports Community, Prof. Ishaya Pam appreciated the initiative for their timely intervention to the university as the university was on a quest to be an arrowhead of sports organisations in Nigeria.
Pam said that the university needed swimming pools, a hockey pitch, and renovation of dilapidated facilities, among many others, and pleaded for more partnership from the initiative.
