The dream of a street meat seller, Hajia Ramatalahi Luqman of performing this year’s Hajj might be coming to reality following a generous donation of N3,487,777.55 by good-spirited Nigerians through a crowdfunding platform.
The crowdfunding which lasted 27 days was spearheaded by the CEO of Bayt-El Jamaal, Hajia Medinat Adigun-Oladotun, who used her social media page to call on philanthropists and good-spirited individuals to support and donate to the cause.
Muslim News gathered the meat seller was seen in a now viral video innocently singing (waka) about her desire to perform Hajj someday, as she attended to a customer.
“It’s only God that knows how I’ll get to Mount Arafat (in Makkah) 2ce
I can’t afford a needle, not to mention a flight ticket
It’s only God that knows how I’ll make it to Mount Arafat…” She sang
Hajia Adigun-Oladotun who overheard her lonely prayers and saw it as a point of duty, posted the video on social media, with the caption; “Based on popular request, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to fulfill the lifelong dream of this poor Muslim lady to visit the holy land of Hajj.
“Through this crowdfunding campaign, we are asking for your support in raising the necessary funds to sponsor her journey. With your generosity, we can make a significant impact in her life and create a lasting memory for her.”
We reliably gathered that within 27 days, a sum of N3,487,777.55 was raised for the meat seller. Giving an account of the donations, the initiator said 131 individuals participated in the crowdfunding for Madam Ramatalahi’s trip to perform the 2023 Hajj.
According to her, “Through 27 days of posting the appeal on social media, donations poured in trickles and torrents. Many were, perhaps encouraged by the perceived integrity of the personality behind the campaign to either join the appeal, endorse it or make donations
“Many Philanthropists and public-spirited individuals made donations that ranged from N1 to 1.5m. At the end of a 27-day positive use of the power of social media for donations, the above amounts have been collected, enough to actualise Madam Ramatalahi’s ambition of making the hajj trip this year. . May Allah ease the rest.”
Hajj, the fifth and last pillar of Islam, is a compulsory spiritual duty that must be carried out by all adult Muslims (males and females) who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, at least once in their lifetime.
This year, no fewer than 95,000 Nigerians are expected to join millions of other Muslims across the world in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the spiritual journey.
