KEY POINTS
-
Abdul Samad Rabiu donates ₦350m lecture hall to Adamawa University.
-
Project includes 500 seats and four boreholes.
-
First ASR Africa-funded facility in North-East Nigeria.
Billionaire industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu has added another project to his growing philanthropy drive, donating a ₦350 million ($250,000) lecture theatre to Adamawa State University, Mubi, through his ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme.
The 500-seat hall, named after Rabiu, includes four boreholes to improve the university’s water supply and marks the first ASR Africa-funded project in Nigeria’s North-East region.
Rabiu expands ASR Africa’s education footprint
Rabiu, founder of BUA Group and Nigeria’s second-richest man, sent Aliyu Idi Hong, a BUA director, to represent him at the commissioning. Hong said they completed the facility “despite economic pressures,” proving Rabiu’s personal commitment to supporting education.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Vice-Chancellor Augustine Clement said the new hall will relieve space constraints for large classes and examinations.
Since its launch in 2021, ASR Africa has funded projects in over 30 Nigerian universities, with grants ranging from ₦250 million to ₦2 billion, depending on project scope.
Focus on transparency and delivery
ASR Africa structures its grants to ensure accountability, often releasing funds in tranches tied to performance milestones. University officials in Mubi said they completed the project within months a pace rarely seen in Nigeria’s public sector.
According to Billionaires Africa, Rabiu’s foundation also supports healthcare, security, and social development programmes across Africa, promoting what it calls “African-led solutions” to development challenges.
During the university’s convocation, Rabiu was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to education.
