Kwara Gov lays foundation for Cancer Treatment Center

On Friday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State inaugurated the foundation for the state’s Cancer and Diagnostic Facility, a significant healthcare project expected to have a substantial positive impact on the state and its people’s well-being.

The facility, funded by a generous donation of N2.5 billion from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative (ASR Africa), owned by the BUA Group, will be named the Abdul Samad Rabiu Medical Centre in honor of the philanthropist.

Governor AbdulRazaq expressed his appreciation to Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu for choosing Kwara as the location for this unique facility. He stated that once completed, it would become the first of its kind in the North Central region, serving as a major referral center attracting people from all over Nigeria and beyond.

The Governor highlighted that with this facility, alongside other healthcare initiatives like the modern intensive care unit and dental and eye facilities, Kwara is on its way to becoming a prominent destination for high-quality medical treatment, research, and training in Nigeria.

Governor AbdulRazaq pledged full support to ASR Africa and BUA Group to ensure the project’s timely completion. He emphasized the growing importance of addressing cancer, a major health issue in the 21st century, with thousands of cases and deaths annually in Nigeria.

The ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries, including House of Representatives member Hon. Muktar Shagaya, Chairman House Committee on Health Hon Razaq Owolabi, and various government officials.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, commended the Governor for his foresight in bringing this oncology center to the state, which will save Nigeria significant expenses on medical tourism for cancer treatments abroad.

The CEO of ASR Africa, Dr. Ubon Udoh, praised Kwara State’s efforts in healthcare and ranked it as the top beneficiary of the Foundation’s tertiary health system support grant. The medical center will offer services like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, imaging, and medical laboratory services for cancer management.