TheCable

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has announced the donation of oncology and diagnostic centre — largest in West Africa — to the Kwara state government.

The centre is to be built with a N2.5 billion ASR Africa tertiary health systems infrastructure initial grant recently awarded to Kwara state by ASR Africa from its annual $100 million Africa fund for social development and renewal.

The announcement was made by Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder of the BUA Group and ASR Africa, and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara state.

According to Rabiu, who was represented by Kabiru Rabiu, group executive director of BUA,  the centre is a standalone facility dedicated to oncology diagnosis, research and treatment, noting that it would go a long way in bridging the gap in cancer research, diagnosis and treatment in West Africa. 

“We appreciate the seriousness with which Governor Abdulrahman and his team have put to kickstart the project in line with our Mutual Accountability Framework. We are moving to site as early as August and the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu has mandated that the Oncology centre must be completed before the end of 2022,” he said.

In his response, AbdulRazaq, thanked Abdul Samad Rabiu and the ASR Africa initiative for the grant, noting that “Kwara is lucky to have the attention of Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, BUA Group and ASR Africa”.

“We take healthcare very seriously and that is why this program is important to us and we thank Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu for this legacy project. This oncology and diagnosis centre is a legacy project that will last beyond all of us and for years to come this would be a priority project which will anchor our health care system.”