The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the brainchild of Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, kicked the building of a N280 million publishing house on Friday at Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
The project, titled “Abdul Samad Rabiu Integrated Publishing House, Babcock University,” is part of the BUA Group founder’s generous gesture through the Tertiary Education Grant Scheme.
The one-story building will serve as a laboratory and studio for students studying communications, media studies, and related subjects, as well as others.
Dr. Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa, expressed his excitement at the university’s decision to build an Integrated Publishing House during a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday at the project site.
Udoh, who was represented by Nakama Keri, stated that the project will help the University transition from a basic press to a contemporary, integrated publishing company that will include publishing, print manufacturing, and other varied services.
The MD stated that the Chairman of ASR Africa prioritises educational development in Africa and has invested over N35 billion to various activities and projects across the continent.
“Alhaji Abdul Samad is someone who is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, and he decided to institutionalise what he has been doing all his life by establishing ASR Africa and committing to a hundred million dollars per year in interventions in social development, health, and education, 50 million of which he is committing to programmes in Nigeria and 50 million to programmes across Africa.
“Education is of special importance and priority to Alhaji Abdul Samad. So far, we have invested around $35 billion on education. We have established libraries in rural Ghana, housing for female students in the Niger Republic, and pledged a billion naira each to approximately six colleges by 2021.
He emphasised the need of cooperation and coordination between the institution and the contractor in ensuring timely delivery of the publishing house.
Prof. Ademola S. Tayo, Vice Chancellor of the University, expressed appreciation with ASR Africa’s nomination under its Tertiary Education Grant Scheme.
He went on to say that the project was chosen in response to the University’s objective of taking its Mass Communications Department to the next level.
According to him, the university’s aim is to educate young men and women capable of critical thinking and problem-solving who can provide new answers to everyday problems, whether social, political, or cultural.
