Key Points
- Abdul Samad Rabiu funds a ₦350 million lecture theatre for Adamawa State University.
- The project includes four boreholes to improve campus water supply.
- ASR Africa expands its education grants to more universities nationwide.
Billionaire businessman Abdul Samad Rabiu has built a 500-seat lecture theatre for Adamawa State University in Mubi.
The project cost ₦350 million and includes four boreholes to improve water supply on campus.
Rabiu funded the project through the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme, his foundation created in 2021 to support education, health, and social development projects across Nigeria.
Leaders Praise the Donation
Rabiu, Nigeria’s second-richest man with a net worth of $8.9 billion, missed the commissioning but sent BUA Group director Aliyu Idi Hong to represent him.
Hong said the project meant a lot to Rabiu and was completed despite rising construction costs.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and the university’s vice chancellor, Augustine Clement, both praised the gift.
“This theatre will help students and lecturers immediately,” Clement said. “It’s a major step forward for us.”
ASR Africa Projects Grow Across Nigeria
ASR Africa described the Adamawa project as its first in the North-East. The foundation has supported more than 30 universities and institutions nationwide, with grants ranging from ₦250 million to ₦2 billion.
The foundation also funds health and security projects. Its model focuses on transparency and shared responsibility with partner institutions.
University officials said this approach helped them finish construction in just a few months.
Honor for Rabiu’s Contribution
During the university’s convocation, the school awarded Rabiu an honorary doctorate for his investment in education.
Nigeria’s public universities continue to struggle with overcrowded classrooms, unreliable power, and limited facilities.
Administrators say private partnerships like ASR Africa’s help close funding gaps and deliver projects faster than government processes.
The new lecture theatre will host classes, exams, and conferences, giving students and lecturers a modern, comfortable space to learn and teach.
