The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa project has awarded a total of N5.5 billion in grants to 22 Nigerian tertiary institutions.
According to The PUNCH, African industrialist and BUA Group chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu are the brain behind the new business network ASR Africa.
The Africa Fund for Sustainable Development and Renewal allocates $100 million annually to address pressing challenges in the continent’s health, education, and social development.
Under the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Initiative, each of the 22 universities received N250 million.
The beneficiaries of the grant include: University of Uyo; University of Jos; Nigerian Law School (Lagos); Federal College of Education Technology, Gusau; Federal University Lokoja; Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun; Nasarawa State University; University of Lagos; University of Port Harcourt; Federal University of Technology Minna; Uthman Dan Fodio University.
Other are: Bayero University Kano; Adamawa State University; Babcock University; Federal University, Gashua; Federal University of Technology Owerri; Al-Qalam University; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru; Baze University; Nigerian Defence Academy; Crescent University; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
The Social Development Specialist for ASR Africa, Edidiong Idang revealed the plan would involve more collaboration with institutions from the public and commercial sectors across Africa, including Nigeria, to assist education.
She said, “Our belief is that Africans need to rise to provide solutions to African problems. We focus our intervention in Africa and this is expressed mainly on infrastructure development, equipping facilities, and capacity building for researchers, healthcare practitioners, and community-level service providers.
“We also support the efforts of various Governments in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa across our three thematic areas. The Initiative provides both technical and financial resources to partners.”
