• Says center ready in 12 months
The Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Initiative Africa has Tuesday presented the prototype of the proposed Kwara’s N2.5bn cancer centre to the Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Ilorin, the state capital.
Founder of the ASR Initiative, Alhaji AbdulSamad Rabiu said the the construction of the centre which his organization donated to Kwara State Government is slated to begin in August and ready for completion 12 months after.
According to him, the specialist facility would be the best in West Africa region for the treatment of cancer.
Rabiu was represented at the event by the Group Executive Director of the BUA Group Alhaji Kabir Rabiu.
“ASR Initiative Africa was initiated with the sum of 100m dollars for each year towards education, health and social development in Africa. We have decided to intervene in health care in four states in Nigeria with an investment of N2.5bn in each of the four states,” the businessman said in Ilorin when the firm presented the prototype of the facility to the government,” he said.
“The project in Kwara State interests us very well. What will be built in Ilorin, Kwara State, will be a stand alone Hospital which will be the largest in West Africa. This will go along way in reducing the pains of our people. We have seen the seriousness of this Kwara State Government. We are ready and we will move to site in August as directed by Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu. The project will be completed within 12 months.”
The businessman observed that the facility would complement the “huge investments” of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in human capital development and the health sector, describing the recently concluded intensive care unit (ICU) facility of the administration as a watershed.
“I congratulate His Excellency for the achievements recorded in education, health and infrastructure within the last two years. You have done well especially on the 12-bed ICU and this aligns with our vision to partner serious government to make impact on health care,” Rabiu said.
AbdulRazaq, for his part, commended the ASR chief for his huge donations and other supports to the state, including another N1bn to the University of Ilorin.
The Governor said the administration has been deliberate in revamping the health sector to make the state the go-to place for medical tourism in the north and some southwestern states.
“This initiative will be another major attraction for the General Hospital Ilorin and the state. It is going to become a big deal for healthcare and Kwara will become the hub of medical tourism especially in specialist care for states like Niger, Kogi, Osun and some parts of southwest like Oyo and Ekiti States,” he said.
The event was also witnessed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Jibril, MD/CEO, ASR Initiative Africa, Ubon Udoh, the Health Commissioner, Dr Raji Rasaq, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu, and other government officials.
