Buhari honours BUA chairman Rabiu over contributions to tertiary education development with NEAPS Award

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, October 21, singled out the billionaire philanthropist, Abdul Samad Rabiu for honour as one of the pillars supporting tertiary education development in Nigeria.

Telescope.ng reports that the event was the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service, where 43 prominent Nigerians were singled out for the honour.

According to the government, Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service was set up to recognize distinguished public service to Nigeria, either contributions to individuals, State or local community or the public through excellence in leadership service or humanitarianism.

To be eligible, the recipient must be a living public official or a private citizen excelling consistently in a given sphere of influence, in good character standing, and must also be at the forefront of service and innovation.

Undoubtedly, the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, ticks all these boxes.

For Abdul Samad Rabiu, the year 2022 can easily be described as a year of Awards both in Nigeria and globally.

His philanthropic activities have continued to catch the eyes of national and international leaders even as he spares nothing to put smiles in the faces of the less privileged.

His ASR Initiative for Africa has touched lives in Nigeria and beyond. No wonder the President specially recognised him for his decision to be at Nigeria’s vanguard of educational transformation.

In the words of President Buhari, his ”intervention in education through the ASR Initiative for Africa as well as his personal initiative. These initiatives fund tertiary education in Nigeria from its yearly 100million dollars” allocation for social development and renewal’ of which five Universities in Nigeria have benefited.

This year alone, the government of Niger Republic has also honoured Rabiu for his philanthropic works in the country while he has been reappointed the Chairman of the France Nigeria Business Council by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. This is apart from various recognitions given to his organisation for working to help communities, including those where he has business interests.