Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation disburses N40m to indigent Muslims in S/West

About N40 million has been disbursed by the Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation under the aegis of The Muslim Congress (TMC) to indigent people across South West states, including Edo and Delta.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Suleiman Olagunju, who disclosed this in Akure, Ondo State, during an empowerment programme, said cash and equipment had been distributed by the foundation to make people less dependent on others for their daily needs.

Olagunju said cash and equipment worth N1.7 million were presented to 42 people in Ondo State to promote reduction of poverty among them.

He noted that widespread poverty and rising crime rate in the country would be checkmated if wealthy individuals in the society could share of their wealth with the poor and the needy around them.

The ZSF boss called for a law that would compel all Muslims who are in a position to pay the mandatory tax known as zakat in order to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

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Olagunju blamed the high rate of crime in the country, including internet fraud, kidnapping and armed robbery, on poverty.

He said the foundation, established about 18 years ago to cater for the needs of the underprivileged in the society, was saddled with the responsibility of collecting zakat from the haves who are willing to put smiles on the faces of the have-nots.

“About 75 people from different parts of the country were gathered in Lagos at the first lap of zakat distribution this year and medical support to the tune of N27.5 million disbursed to take care of the health challenges of some people.

“In Osun State, four communities were provided with permanent solution in the form of mechanised boreholes just as about N7.3 million was shared among the poor members of society.

“We moved from Osun State to Delta State and the sum of N1.5 million was given to 97 beneficiaries. The Edo State edition gulped N1.7 million, while the sum of N1.2 million was distributed in Ekiti State,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Waleed Baderinwa, commended the foundation for its gesture and promised to make the most of the materials given to him.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the Chief Imam of Akure, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede, urged other individuals and organisations to emulate the foundation.

He said Muslims should imbibe the culture of giving back to the society in line with the teachings of Islam.