The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has announced a major grant of N5.5 billion to 22 universities and institutions of higher learning across Nigeria.
The grant, which is being awarded under the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grants Scheme (TEGS), will provide N250 million to each institution towards infrastructure projects. This brings the total number of tertiary education institutions benefiting from ASR Africa education interventions in Nigeria to 30.
Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa, said that the 22 beneficiary institutions were chosen based on carefully selected criteria and include both public and private universities located throughout the country.
The next phase of the grants framework will involve project selection and the development of mutual accountability frameworks with the selected institutions. This is expected to commence in the coming weeks.
The grant announcement was made by Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of ASR Africa and BUA Group. Rabiu emphasized the importance of education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and said that ASR Africa is committed to investing in quality education in Nigeria and throughout Africa.
“We believe in Africa’s capacity to leapfrog the development divide through the SDGs,” Rabiu said. “Good, quality investments in education is one of the ways through which we can achieve that. This is why education remains one of the three focal areas for ASR Africa’s interventions in Nigeria, and Africa, and our investments in infrastructure for tertiary institutions are showing good promise.”
The 22 universities and institutions that will receive the grant include: Bayero University Kano, Adamawa State University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Nigerian Law School (Lagos), University of Uyo, University of Lagos, University of Jos, Federal College of Education Technology, Gusau, Federal University Lokoja, Nasarawa State University, University of Port Harcourt, Federal University of Technology Minna, Uthman Dan Fodio University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Crescent University, Babcock University, Al-Qalam University, Baze University, Nigerian Defence Academy, Federal University Gashua, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
The grant announcement comes just a few weeks after ASR Africa announced the completion of infrastructure projects at eight universities that had previously benefited from the TEGS Scheme.
The organization has said that it will continue to invest in education in Nigeria and throughout Africa as it works towards achieving the SDGs.
