Date: 2015-01-30

THE Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation has unveiled plans to expand its distribution network to states such as Ogun, Osun, Kwara and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja among others.

  The Executive Director of the charity organisation, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, who disclosed this at the 10th Zakat Distribution Ceremony in Lagos, recently said about 140 new beneficiaries have been enlisted for various materials worth over N9 million in those states.

   However, Shuaib disclosed that the Zakat fund being managed by the group was slightly over N72 million as at the 2014 (1435 AH).

   According to him, the group had, between March and August 2014, distributed over N43million Zakat fund to over 90 people spread across the Southwestern region of the country with majority of the beneficiaries resident in Lagos. 

  “Again, two mini-zakat distribution also took place in Lagos where over N7.5 million was disbursed to over 53 beneficiaries at the Head Office of the Foundation. In furtherance of our decentralisation policy on Zakat distribution, we have gone to Enugu, Abia, Osun and Oyo states in the past few weeks to disburse Zakat and distribute equipment worth over N7m to over 164 beneficiaries,” he stated.

   Lamenting the poor economic situation in the country, Shuaib said: “It is a fact that the poor and needy Nigerians cannot access qualitative healthcare service in the country. In most cases, these vulnerable and less-privileged Nigerians suffer unimaginable socio-economic deprivations occasioned by bad government policies, ineptitude of government officials, endemic and institutionalized corruption and dysfunctional management of the Nigeria Project.  

  “As a faith-based organisation, we are inspired by the teachings of Islam to promote the welfare of the poor people and show love to them without prejudice to their ethno-religious background,” he said.

    The beneficiaries of the zakat got over N19.6million worth of equipment such as seven deep freezers, eight 3.5 KVA generators, one Laptop, two tricycles, three motorcycles, two sewing machines, two photo-camera with printers and a complete set of Aluminum tools among others. 

  Besides, some received adequate fund to rent decent apartments, pay school tuition fees as well as access qualitative medical treatments for ailments such as breast cancer, fibroid, eye impairment and hole in the heart surgery among others.

  The Chairman, Board of Directors, Sulayman Olagunju, said the group was working relentlessly to strengthen the process, as it gives priority to the human capital development with a view to upholding and sustaining global best practices of Zakat fund and administration. 

   He said, “this strategy has been very helpful and fruitful in the first decade of our operations as indicated in the volume of Zakat distributed over the past six years.”

The Chairman, Advisory Board, Z&S, Alhaji Umar Abdul Mutallab underscored the significance of Zakat as fundamental pillar of Islam, while urging the Muslims “to always endeavor to pay and contribute the growth of the foundation.”

   Mutallab, who was represented by Chief Executive Officer, Jaiz Charity development, Alhaji Adamu Babangida Ibrahim, appreciated the mechanism adopted by the foundation to enrich the poor and contribute to the wellbeing of the populace.