Maudako Igbokwe l Monday, October 11, 2021
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Abdul Samad Rabiu, ASRAfrica Initiative has unveiled plan to construct N1billion International Student Centre at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State.
This gesture was made known by Chairman /Founder of ASRAfrica Initiative, Alhaji Abdul Sama Rabiu, represented by a former Minister of Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hung during the unveiling of prototype of the centre at the institution’s senate chamber.
According to Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu the idea of project was borne out of desire to contribute to the growth and development of the country. He said the foundation had set aside fund for intervention in the area of education, health and social development in Nigeria and Africa in general.
“The initiative has a commitment of setting aside USD 100 million yearly of which Fifty Million Dollars is set aside specifically for Nigeria and the remaining $50m for the rest of African countries ” he said.
“In part of what we have done so far, this is the last lap of the university intervention of N1billion development grant to one institution in each of the six geographical zone of the country, ”he said. He assured that the One Billion Naira project would start in a couple of months, promising quick completion upon take-off.
Speaking at the occasion, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Sulyman Kuranga said the project would serve as a reward to entire students of the institution who had maintained peace and harmony on the campus over the years. He commended the foundation for love for the future of the students even in a period of harsh economy.
According to him, the project when completed , would be rated as the first and best among universities in Africa. Prof Kuranga said the centre would be accessible to the university community and would also stimulate a solid learning culture in a conducive environment.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Charles Esimone, while expressing gratitude to the donors, said Students Center in the institution when completed would be the first and best of its kind in Nigeria in particular and Africa at large.
He said the Students complex would house the Students Affairs unit, International Students centre, centre for Council and Career Development, Armpit Theatre, the SUG secretariat , among others. He assured that the students would be end users of the project .
In his remarks, the Project Managing Director of the foundation , Mr. Ubon Udoh disclosed that the project would take off as soon as the university management constitutes a team that would allow for interaction to fine tune the design to achieve the desired goal.
He explained that the group utilized the National Universities Commission(NUC) ranking, the global university’s ranking as well as developmental strides in the annual selection of the benefitting universities across the country.
