The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government, has started the construction of the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital.
It was learnt that the gigantic project is being supported by a N5 billion ASR Africa Health Infrastructure Grant out of which N2.5billion has been disbursed to commence construction.
The Initiative was established by founder of Nigeria’s BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu with a view to supporting development i in health, education and other areas within Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
It aims to achieve the developmental projects through its yearly $100 million ‘Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal’.
The state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, said: “We are happy to receive the first tranche of N2.5billion from the ASR Africa Initiative and today’s ground breaking ceremony coming just two weeks after the N5 billion grant was announced signposts the seriousness we attach to delivering a teaching hospital that would be a model for others and one Nigeria would be proud of”, the Governor said.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa stated that . “We earlier in the month announced a N5 billion grant to the state for healthcare and social development as part of our annual $100 million dollars Annual Africa Fund forSocial Development and Renewal. Today, we have also handed over a first tranche of N2.5billion Naira to commence construction of the Teaching hospital which will be of international standards. This project in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government, will be implemented and monitored fully in line with the ASR Africa Mutual Accountability Framework.”, Udoh said.
Represebtarive of the founder of ASR Africa, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong said, “We have been across the length of the state and we have seen the different developmental projects done by the state government in Primary and Secondary healthcare especially in the areas of infrastructure, are referral system, health, education and human capacity development. What the ASR Africa initiative is simply doing is filling in the gaps and joining the government in delivering comprehensive healthcare to the people. We believe that this hospital will go a long way in boosting the healthcare system of the state, whilst encouraging research and training a new generation of healthcare practitioners”.