NO fewer than 70 indigent Nigerians were on Wednesday presented with cheques and tools worth N15 million for economic empowerment, health, livelihood, educational intervention, among others, at the 2023 zakat distribution ceremony of the Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation in Lagos State.
The beneficiaries received items like deep freezers, industrial sewing machines, straight sewing machines, gas cookers, generators, laptops and a grinding machine at the eighth edition of the annual zakat distribution held at Beleke Smith Memorial Central Mosque, Surulere, Lagos.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, DrAbdullahi Shuaib, said the foundation recorded a 66.7 percent improvement in the zakat fund disbursed this year, as against the 50 percent increase recorded last year.
According to him, last year, the foundation disbursed zakat both in items and cash to the tune of N9 million to 42 beneficiaries.
“At this gathering, the foundation is set to distribute zakat funds as well as items worth N15 million to a total number of 70 beneficiaries.
“This accomplishment could not have been possible without the patronage of our existing and new zakat payers who have consistently reposed their confidence in us to distribute their zakat efficiently to deserving beneficiaries. We ask Allah to continue to bless the zakat payers’ wealth, families and enterprises as they continue to support the cause of Allah and humanity,” Dr Shuaib said.
“At Jaiz Foundation, we are concerned by the worsening living conditions of the weak, poor, needy, ill-treated and vulnerable among men, women, and children.
“In light of this, I am delighted to mention that Jaiz Foundation took it upon itself to respond to the clarion call of the weak, poor and needy. As usual, the Foundation is always inspired to wipe off the tears and soothe the pains of the aforementioned people,” he added.
The Jaiz Foundation CEO said the goal of the exercise is to empower weak and vulnerable Nigerians and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the zakat funds and items effectively.
In a lecture which centered on eradicating poverty in Islam, the Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’I, said the zakat institution was established to free mankind from poverty.
According to him, Islam is the only religion ordained by Allah for mankind and established upon five pillars, the third of which is zakat, which is meant to eradicate poverty and promote economic empowerment and societal reformation.
The renowned Islamic scholar encouraged those eligible to pay their zakat and advised zakat administrators and recipients.
He implored rich Muslims to pay zakat to reliable foundations such as Jaiz and also to invest in waqf (endowment fund), “because it is something that is not common in our society.”
One of the special guests at the event, the Executive Director of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Prince Sulayman Olagunju, praised the Jaiz charity foundation team for putting smiles on the faces of the poor despite the limited resources at their disposal.
“When it comes to zakat collection in this country, Jaiz charity is a force to be reckoned with. And looking at what it has done today, you can only rate the foundation as one of the best in Nigeria,” Olagunju said.
He also commended Jaiz for putting mechanism in place to monitor the impact of zakat collected by beneficiaries.
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