“As a widow, I was faced with a lot of challenges after the death of my husband, especially financial. But when I came to ZSF for support, I found favour.” These were the words of Hajiya Monsurat Raheem, one of the widows feted by a faith-based charity organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, during the 2022 International Widows’ Day.
The outpouring of love and testimonies of the Foundation’s kindness and generosity to the plight of widows and the needy, irrespective of their religion, tribe rent the air at a special disbursement exercise held on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at the Alausa Secretariat Mosque Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
At the special occasion set aside and recognised by the United Nations to celebrate widows globally, the Foundation disbursed the sum of Thirty-Nine million, Four hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira only (N39,480,000) to One hundred and Four (104) deserving beneficiaries who are indigents and mostly widows.
Hajiya Raheem was one of the beneficiaries who graced the event in Lagos as she appreciated the Islamic Foundation for putting smiles on their faces.
According to her, I’m excited and very happy to be here today, Alhamdulillah. I am a widow who lost her husband when our first child was 10 years old. Now he is 22. I faced a lot of challenges, especially financial. I came here for assistance and I got favour.
The intervention in cheques and materials which included sewing and industrial machines, deep freezer was meant for economic empowerment, educational support, medical support, accommodation and welfare support of the beneficiaries.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Prince Sulayman Olagunju congratulated widows across the world, Nigeria inclusive on the occasion of the 2022 International Widows’ Day, with the theme, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, which aimed to recognise women who are working for a sustainable future.
Prince Olagunju said, “Widows all over the world, have always been passing through a lot of hardships which include loneliness, poverty, burden of catering for their children, alienation, discrimination, stigmatization etc. The security situation of our dear country has worsened the condition of many widows in our midst.
“Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation has been working assiduously to alleviate some the challenges confronting widows in Nigeria as much as we can. We engage in series of counselling, training and economic empowerment schemes among others for widows.”
The Executive Director called on well-meaning Nigerians to kindly come to their aid, especially in the area of medical support to save more lives, adding that, “The amount required to effectively take care of the medical needs of applicants is far beyond what we were able to give them. For example, we had an applicant that needed about N15 million and we could only give her N2 million.”
“Our foundation has over the years been assisting widows, people with health challenges and communities in living a comfortable life. We’ll not rest on our oars to continue to help the helpless in the society and make life meaningful to the downtrodden,” he noted.
Another beneficiary, Hajiya Balkees Owolabi’s joy knew no bounds as she thanked the Foundation for the support. “I came to Zakat and Sadaqat for assistance. I lost my husband last year. I needed support and AlhamduliLlah, I got it.”
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Tajudeen Yusuf, a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos, said, “The people you saw here today didn’t just come. They were invited by us for economic empowerment and educational support.
“Some for medical support. But before the invitation, they had been interviewed and we were able to know their challenges with the purpose of finding solutions to them. That’s why we have invited the beneficiaries from different pars of Nigeria. We don’t look at your colour, tribe or religious background. It’s for humanity,” said Prof. Yusuf, who is also the Director, Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals.
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