The Secretary-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State, Sheikh Tajudeen Adewunmi, has said that the level of poverty will reduce drastically if every Muslim in Nigeria can pay their zakats regularly.
While canvassing the regular payment of zakat, Adewunmi attributed the high level of poverty to poor welfare.
He stated this at the 12th annual zakat distribution of over N7.6m zakat donation to 53 beneficiaries by the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Egba/Yewa zone.
The cleric who is also the Chief Imam of Ilaro, Yewa-North area of the state spoke on “Returning to Allah: A Panacea to Economic Challenges in Nigeria” during the event.
Represented by another Islamic scholar, Sheikh Kolawole AbdulRazaq, Adewunmi said “if every Muslim in Nigeria can pay their zakats as expected, the level of poverty will reduce drastically.
“Muslims who are eligible to pay zakat should ensure they pay without delay. This will reduce the high level of poverty in Nigeria.”
He urged the beneficiaries to ensure what is given to them is “used judiciously and sell no part of it in any form,” while charging the administrators on equality.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Sulaimon Olagunju, said that 53 persons benefited from the N7,643,300 disbursed as zakat in Egba/Yewa Zone for the year, adding that 42 of them were empowered with equipment.
He further explained that one person each was given accommodation, education support and Waqf, adding that the foundation paid off the debts of four persons while four other persons got medical support.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state and patron of the foundation, Maruf Afuape, also urged all Muslims to pay their zakats as and when due as part of efforts to reduce the rising spate of banditry and kidnapping in the country, adding that “most of the atrocious activities in the country today is as a result of poverty.”
A former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) who was the chairman of the occasion, Lateef Owoyemi, enjoined youths to engage in entrepreneurship, saying it will help eradicate poverty among themselves.
Dignitaries at the event include the Wakilu Musulumi of Yorubaland/Edo and Delta, Alhaji Iskil Lawal; Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheikh Saa’dallah Bamigbola and the Chief Imam, Central Mosque Ayetoro, As-Sheikh AbdulGaniy Ajakore among others.
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