No fewer than 79 beneficiaries received cheques and materials worth N9 million from Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation in Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, as part of its efforts to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty among women and youths.
The event kick-started a chain of other distributions that will see N69.6m distributed across five other states of the Federation, including Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The flag-off of the 2022/1433AH Zakat distribution was done in Lagos via the enhancement of the economic wellbeing of the beneficiaries.
During the event at the Beleke Smith Memorial Mosque Hall, Surulere, materials such as industrial sewing machines, deep freezers, printer, among others, were distributed to artisans and individuals to grow their respective businesses.
Zakat, the third pillar of Islam, is an obligatory act upon all adult Muslims who are financially capable.
We’re committed to give hope to the hopeless– Chairman
Addressing guests and beneficiaries at the occasion, Chairman, Jaiz Foundation, Mallam Adamu Bello, CFR, who was ably represented by Hajiya Zainab Abdurrahman, a Trustee of the Foundation noted that a sum of N3.7m had earlier been disbursed for health related challenges of some individuals.
JUST IN: Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation on Wednesday flagged off the 2022 Zakat distribution in Lagos, where 79 beneficiaries received cheques and materials worth N9m. More than N60m will be disbursed in five states: Bauchi, Ondo, Kwara, Sokoto and Abuja, before year end pic.twitter.com/La1hwsrfxs
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) June 15, 2022
“Prior to this day, we had already disbursed over N3.7million to meet pressing medical needs of some beneficiaries recommended by some of our Zakat donors for urgent surgeries such as kidney transplant and hyperthyroidism among others which could not be delayed.
“Today (Wednesday), we are set to disburse the outstanding balance of N5.2million naira to 39 beneficiaries who are seriously in pains due to the adverse economic situation which has impacted negatively on the living conditions of our less privileged.
“As part of the mandates of the Foundation, we are committed to improving the precarious situation of the have-nots among us, by giving a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless – victims of the harsh economy – with a view to inspiring them to the path of financial independence and shared prosperity,” he said.
Adamu congratulated the beneficiaries, urging them to make the best use of the money and the materials received.
“I congratulate all the selected beneficiaries among several others that applied but whose requests could not be met due to insufficient Zakat fund. I urge you to make the best utilisation of the portion of Zakat to be given to you in order to help yourselves and your families so you are able to raise the bar of your dignity and self-worth,” he said.
Zakat as instrumentality of Islamic social finance – Dr. Shuaib
The Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abdullah Shuaib in his address, gave the breakdown of the distribution exercise to the remaining 39 beneficiaries, saying, “we are set to distribute 2 sewing machines, 3 industrial sewing machines, 1 blood pressure machine, 1 deep freezer and 1 Laserjet Mfp 137 fnw monochrome printer.
“We have made direct payments to a hospital for hernia surgery for 2 beneficiaries. Apart from medical and economic empowerment supports, other thematic areas covered by the Foundation include education, accommodation, debt-relief and humanitarian supports.
“We also had several others we empowered with seed capital, minimum was N100,000. Most of them went home with between N150,000 to N200,000. We also had some students particularly from Lagos State University Ojo, they too received Zakat fund. There are some that were supported with fund to pay for shop rents, between N80,000 to N120,000. The remaining ones went for economy empowerment.
“We also have three institutions that partnered with us. We have Fourtheenmoon Foundation; An-Noor Centre and NobleHeart Foundation, as we gave them N300,000 to N500,000 for them to also disburse to others. This is the summary of our distributions for 2022, which we started today in Lagos”, he noted.
He described Zakat as one of the instrumentalities of Islamic social finance, a subset of Islamic finance. He said Zakat remains a potent tool to mitigate poverty, reduce inequality gaps in the society and economically empower the poor as well as the needy.
Dr. Shuaib noted that the event was a manifestation of the assertion that Zakat is a tool for financial inclusion and shared prosperity.
“As we are all witnesses to this gathering, Jaiz Foundation is walking the talk that Zakat is working and it has the potentials to eradicate poverty when it is administered efficiently and effectively by professional organisations on the tripod of solidarity, collaboration and synergy.
Distribution process in Lagos, other 5 States – Abbo
Speaking with the Muslim News on the sidelines of the disbursement exercise, Mallam Bashir Mohammad Abbo, Head of Programme, Jaiz Foundation, Abuja, said the event formally marked the beginning of the 2022 Jaiz Zakat Distribution in Lagos.
“For this year, we’ll be disbursing N69.6 million in six states to the needy with different challenges, including education, empowerment and health, among others. We distributed N9m in Lagos. We started with Lagos because most of the proceeds of Zakat we got came from Lagos.
“Next week, we’ll go to Akure, Ondo. Bauchi, Kwara, Sokoto will follow respectively, and the grand finale will hold in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja”.
Mallam Abbo said the number of states were reduced in order to adequately share the proceeds, a sum of 69m among six States of the Federation, adding that the gesture will be extended to other States in subsequent distribution exercises.
“Our policy is to give out something tangible to the beneficiaries so it could alleviate poverty. Also, whatever they got from us, is not only to solve their immediate problem, but to empower themselves. At the end, we want them to be self-reliant and gain income generation,” he said.
Payment of Zakat will reduce poverty – Sheikh Adangba
One of the special guests at the event, Sheikh AbdurRahman Adangba, the Chief Imam of Adangba Central Mosque, extolled Jaiz Foundation for putting smiles on the faces of the needy through Zakat disbursement.
He therefore urged the Foundation not to relent in enlightening and sensitising rich Muslims on the need to pay their Zakat from their wealth in due course, saying it will eradicate poverty in the society.
Sheikh Adangba called on the beneficiaries to use what they received from the Foundation judiciously, so they could equally become Zakat donors in the nearest future.
The industrial machine will ease my work – beneficiary
The joy on the faces of the beneficiaries knew no bounds as they appreciated Jaiz Foundation for supporting them to grow their businesses and achieve their dreams, through the disbursement exercise.
Adeleke Suliyat Oluwakemi is a Fashion designer from Bariga Lagos. She told Muslim News that the industrial sewing machine she received from Jaiz Foundation will ease her work and make it faster.
“I am very grateful to Jaiz for giving me this industrial sewing machine. It will really go a long way to make my sewing easy and faster. Since I have been in the fashion industry for 8 year, I have been using small and manual machine. But now, I am highly excited.
“I want to say a big thank you to Jaiz and its team. I really appreciate them. They should keep doing it because it’s really going to help a lot of people and bring joy to them. Almighty Allah will continue to make it easy for them”, she added, in excitement.
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