The Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative (ASR Africa), a subsidiary of BUA Group, has begun the construction of a sports complex worth N250 million at the University of Jos.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on Tuesday in Jos, Dr Ubong Udoh, Managing Director of the organisation, said that the gesture aimed at giving back to the society.
He added that the group chairman, Alhaji Abdul Rabiu, is passionate about supporting local initiative toward achieving sustainable development.
He explained that the sports complex would have a spectators stand, lawn tennis, volley ball and basket ball courts.
”Our chairman is passionate about giving back to the society and because of our passion for sports, when this application came, we didn’t think twice.
”We are passionate about leadership development and building local content, and it is our belief that the choice of a sports complex is timely.
”This will be a platform for social cohesion, leadership and character development,” he said.
Udoh sais that the organisation would not relent in supporting initiatives that would have direct bearing in the lives of the people.
Earlier, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor of the university, thanked ASR Africa for the gesture.
He said that that the support would go a long way toward addressing infrastructure deficit ahead of the forthcoming Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) games to be hosted by the university.
The vice chancellor added that the importance of the sports complex goes beyond the NUGA games, insisting that it would support its plan toward the introduction of a sport institute in the university.
”Our vision is that beyond the forthcoming NUGA games, this complex will evolve into a sports institute.
”The curriculum for the sports institute has been developed where we can teach sports journalism, medicine, marketing, among others,” he said.
Prof. Ishaya Pam, Chairman, Sports Committee of the university, said that adequate arrangements have been ongoing toward the success of the forthcoming games.
He explained that the competition would attract over 9,000 athletes, officials and spectators from over 80 universities across Nigeria.(