ASR Africa Gives N1bn Grant to University of Benin

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has awarded a N1 billion infrastructure grant to the University of Benin (UNIBEN) as part of its 2021 Tertiary Education Grants Scheme.

This was revealed during the grant presentation by ASR Africa management to the Vice-Chancellor and council members of the University of Benin on Wednesday.

With this grant, the University of Benin becomes the fifth Nigerian university to receive the gesture from the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grants Scheme, which is funded by the ASR Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal, which has a yearly budget of $100 million.

The University of Maiduguri, University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria are among the previous 2021 grant recipients.

During the presentation, Mr Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa, praised the university administration for their dedication to ensuring the highest tertiary education standards at the University of Benin.

He further said UNIBEN was chosen for the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant based on a number of criteria, including ranking, student population, gender inclusivity and others.

The ASR Africa Initiative, which is the brainchild of industrialist and philanthropist, Mr Abdul Samad Rabiu, was set up with an annual pledge of $100 million dedicated to health, education and social development issues within the African continent.

Out of this, Nigeria will benefit $50 million yearly and the rest of Africa, $50 million, in what is the largest private philanthropic giving of its kind by an individual in Africa.