Jaiz Foundation chief seeks adequate enlightenment on waqf

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1 year ago

THE Chief Executive Officer of Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, Dr Abdullahi Shuaib, has stressed the need for increased awareness campaign on waqf in Nigeria.

Dr Shuaib described what he called lack of adequate public enlightenment on waqf as one of the factors responsible for the limited waqf projects in the country.

He stated these as the guest lecturer at a waqf awareness seminar organised by the Zakat and Sadaqat Waqf Foundation which was held at the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking on the topic ‘Understanding the Concept of Waqf as an Islamic Social Finance Instrument’, Shuaib explained that waqf is an instrument under Islamic social finance which can be undertaken by both the rich and the poor for societal development and public good.

“We need to step up our awareness campaign. We need to remove the fog in the eyes of those who are supposed to be the major drivers of this waqf initiative. They need to understand the meaning of the concept; how it is being applied in different climes; and to understand our own terrain so that we avoid those pitfalls that can make individuals or corporate organisations who want to tread the path of establishing waqf derail or fall,” he said.

The Jaiz Foundation chief noted that most people in Nigeria give theoretical explanations on waqf without fostering concrete understanding of its practical application.

He advocated intensive cross-fertilisation of ideas among Islamic organisations so that more people would have the required expertise on waqf.

The Executive Director of Zakat and Sadaqat Waqf Foundation, Alhaji Ma’ruf Ahmad, said the foundation had achieved so much in its two years of existence.

Ahmad said: “In the last two years, we have been able to gather some cash to start hostel projects that will enhance accommodation for students at a cheap rate and still bring in revenue.

“We already have an acre of land at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode. The objective is to get a hostel accommodation for students that will be affordable and also generate revenue to develop more of such project. We also have a building we want to secure in Sagamu. It is very close to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, which medical students can have access to as accommodation.

“We have a building donated by a philanthropist. In waqf, you can be specific. So, when he was donating that building, he said he wanted us to use it for school. The school should generate revenue that will take care of a specific number of orphans. We have started the school this session. We hope the school will grow so that we meet the aspiration of the donor.”

He stated that the foundation is targeting a diagnostic centre project for which fundraising is ongoing.

“Most people die today not because of the severity of an ailment, but for not knowing in time that they have the ailment, which would have assisted them in tackling the ailment. They can’t access diagnosis because of the cost. So, we are targeting to build a diagnostic centre where people can get cheaper rates.

“We have raised about N50 million for the project. However, since the fund we need is yet to complete, we have invested the one on the ground in Sukuk. The value of the capital must not diminish. By the time we get enough funds we can sell the certificate and build up,” he noted.

The chairman of the occasion, Dr AbdulGaniy Shopeyin, said the waqf projects of the foundation were already transforming the society.

Shopeyin, a former chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), advised the foundation to include virtual programmes in the awareness campaigns on waqf.

He said: “We must ensure that we do not limit our enlightenment campaigns and lectures to people working for the foundation alone. We can even engage Christians. This is a technology-oriented world. We can have virtual programmes on it so that everybody will know. A lot of Muslims still do not know the meaning of waqf. I have learnt a lot today. I believe so many people out there too need to learn. It is not difficult. It is a simple thing that everybody can do.

“We can achieve many waqf-funded projects in Nigeria too, but it is by educating the people. We should let people know what waqf is about. By the time people know, you will begin to see a lot of changes here and there. You can imagine what we will get if a thousand people contribute 10 naira each to a waqf project. The essence of waqf will then be taken care of.”

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