VC Tells How ASR Africa’s Donation Of N250m Sports Complex To UniJos Will Uplift Nigeria’s Sport
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof Ishaya Tanko has praised Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Africa Initiative for the donation of an ultramodern sports complex to the tertiary institution.
ASR Africa, the philanthropic initiative of billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu, the founder of BUA Group – a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in foods, mining, and manufacturing – began the construction of the N250 million state-of-the-art sports complex with a groundbreaking event on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
The sporting facility which has continued to earn ASR Africa and its founder accolades is situated at the Naraguta Campus of the University and on completion will boast of a 300-seater spectator stand, changing rooms, a lawn tennis court, and a basketball court.
“Indeed today marks the culmination of years of hard work and planning by the management of the University of Jos and ASR Africa Initiative led by Dr Ubon Udoh”, the VC who was appreciative of Abdul Samad Rabiu and his foundation’s philanthropic gesture said while delivering his welcome address.
L-R: Mrs. Nansik Tyoden (Representing Registrar, UNIJOS), Prof. Tanko Ishaya (Vice-Chancellor), Dr. Ubon Udoh (MD/CEO, ASR Africa), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN (Dep, Vice-Chancellor, Administration), Prof. Bawa Muhammed (President, Nigeria University Games Association) and Mr. Philip Umbugala (Bursar, UNIJOS) during the groundbreaking ceremony of the ultra-modern Abdul Samad Rabiu Sports Complex at the University of Jos.
Further intimating all of his mission to position the University of Jos as the arrowhead of sports development in Nigeria Prof Tanko stated… “In order to drive infrastructural development, the University sought for and obtained the hosting rights for the NUGA games for 2024 which was hotly contested. Our gratitude goes to the NUGA council led by the President, Prof Bawa for granting the university the opportunity to host NUGA. UniJos intends to host the most spectacular NUGA games ever.
Interestingly, this year’s NUGA games – with an estimated eighty universities preparing for the exercise – is expected to attract no fewer than nine thousand athletes, officials, and spectators to the city of Jos for the first time in the history of the competition.
He pointed out that the NUGA game and by extension construction of the ASR Africa Sports Complex will surely “provide an opportunity for talent identification and provide a veritable springboard for Nigeria’s participation in international sporting events”.
Recalling the process tha that led to selection of the UniJos for the important project, Prof Tanko disclosed “After a rigorous selection process, UniJos was awarded a grant from the ASRI for Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TBGS) worth N250 million Naira. This is for the construction of a Sports Complex in the University”.
