Kwara, Three Others to Receive ASR N10bn Health Intervention Fund

By Adedapo Adesanya

Four states in Nigeria – Kwara, Edo, Ogun and Sokoto have been selected as recipient states for the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) N10 billion health intervention programmes for 2021.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the ASR Africa, Mr Ubon Udoh, in a statement in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state on Tuesday, June 22.

He explained that the health intervention fund is a continuation of the initiative’s $100 million Africa Fund for social development within Nigeria and the African continent, which has identified and commenced implementation of development needs in healthcare, education and social development within the country and beyond.

“In addition to this and based on our subnational healthcare needs assessment, ASR Africa has now decided to commit N2.5 billion each to four states within Nigeria — Ogun, Kwara, Sokoto and Edo States.

“This expanded grant will be dedicated towards healthcare interventions from maternal and child health to health infrastructure, capacity development, amongst others.

“We will develop mutual accountability frameworks with the state implementation teams after which 50 per cent of the grant will be disbursed immediately to commence implementation of the projects earmarked. The remaining 50 per cent will be released in line with agreed delivery milestones,” Mr Udoh said.

Established this year, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative seeks to support sustainable development initiatives in the health, education, and social development within Nigeria and the rest of Africa, every year, the statement added.

Speaking on the selection of his administred state for the initiative, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State commended the ASR Africa Initiative for including the State of Harmony in the intervention, saying it would help to consolidate the administration’s investments and achievements in the health sector.

The Governor said; “We sincerely thank AbdulSamad Rabiu for this huge humanitarian gesture which is a continuation of his supports for the state over the years.

“The government, for the record, remains immensely grateful for the support it received from Alhaji Abdul Samad and the BUA Group in the teeth of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, and looks forward to enduring relationship with the conglomerate,” the Governor said.