TheCable

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has announced the donation of N5 billion grant to support health and social development in Akwa Ibom state.

This was announced during a presentation of the grant award letter by ASR Africa to Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa lbom, in Uyo, the state capital, on Thursday.

ASR Africa was established in March 2021 with an annual fund of $100 million dedicated to solving development issues in the areas of health, education and social development on the African continent — $50 million is allocated to Nigeria and the rest to other countries.

In his presentation, Kabiru Rabiu, representative of Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of ASR Africa and BUA Group, commended Udom for his efforts in upgrading the state healthcare infrastructure and referral system.

He said the state has exhibited good handling of the coronavirus pandemic for which the BUA Foundation donated five ambulances and 50,000 reusable facemasks in the state.

Rabiu added that ASR Africa has approved the immediate and initial disbursement of N2.5 billion from the total sum to a jointly managed fund guaranteeing the commencement of the programme.

In his remarks, Ubon Udoh, managing director of ASR Africa, said the initiative is committed to supporting efforts in the areas of education, health and social development.

He said Akwa Ibom is the first state to benefit from the initiative and its healthcare component.

“The initiative’s core areas of intervention are education, health and social development in Africa and our main focus is on equipping facilities, researchers, healthcare practitioners and community-level service providers and also supporting the efforts of various government in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

“The purpose of this initiative is to give back to the society. ASR Africa has set aside 100 million dollars annually for social development health and education intervention in Nigeria and Africa through the ASR Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal. Of this amount 50 million dollars is being committed to Nigeria and another $50 million for the rest of Africa.

“Prior to now the initiative had donated N1 billion each to the University of lbadan, Oyo State and the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State under our education intervention programme.

“Akwa lbom state will be the first sub-national government to benefit from this Fund as well as the first to benefit from the healthcare component. We are currently evaluating other beneficiaries within Nigeria and the rest of Africa.”

Reacting to the development, Udom commended the founder of the initiative for his commitment to social good and philanthropy.

He said the projects to be funded by the grant will be jointly approved and implemented in line with the ASR Africa grants utilisation framework.

The governor added that the state will continue to do more to boost social development and improve the healthcare infrastructure for its citizens.