* Splashes N2.6m on five beneficiaries of youth empowerment initiative
No fewer than 15 students have successfully graduated from the Youth Empowerment and Sewing Programme, an initiative of the Zakat and Welfare Committee of Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU).
The graduation took place on Friday, 8th November, 2024 at the Lekki Central Mosque, Lekki, Lagos and was attended by the graduates and leadership of the Muslim community
Muslim News gathered that the graduates comprises 12 females, 3 males who were empowered with a Sewing Machine each in addition to N50,000 cash each as start-up capital to commence their fashion businesses.
The female sewing graduates include Adisa Kafayat Oluwakemi, Hammed Idayat Oyebolanle, Sulaimon Fatimoh Damilola, Mariam Adamu, Barakasa Hafsat Audu, Ajani Aminat Akanke, Nofisah Temitope Daodu.
Others Otunba Khadija Eniola, Babatunde Hafsat Ajoke, Olatunde Mujibah Olatoun, Maruf Khadijat Opeyemi, Adeyemi Masturah.
The male beneficiaries are
Shaibu Abdullahi, Adeosun Hammed Olamilekan and Muritala Bello.
Our Correspondent also learnt that a sum of 2.6 million naira was disbursed to 5 beneficiaries in the Youth Empowerment category.
They are Abdulquadri Suliyat (N500k), Thanni Monsurah Abidemi (N500k), Ogunbona Nofisat (N500k), Adeshina Bilikisu Muhammad (N600k) and Sholagbade Olabode Yusuf (N500k).
An anonymous donor also gifted best male and female graduating students N50, 000 each and N25, 000 to best supporting student for their impressive performances and conducts during the training.
Ex-graduates from the past cohorts also graced the event to share testimonies of life after the training and strategies for sustainable living initiative.
I am happy to see fourth cohort graduating: Tutor
The initiative which lasted for almost six months was handled by Why Waste It Academy coordinated by Hajia Bola Shakirah Ramos, who expressed happiness over the successful completion of the programme, saying they are on their way to start making sustainable earnings.
According to her, “This is the fourth cohort. I am very excited for witnessing another graduation of this laudable programme which has been sponsored over the years by Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU).
“The graduates have done something unique and amazing this time. Normally, on their graduation day like this, they will showcase clothing designs they have made during their course of study. Today, they have done something on recycling and sustainability.
Speaking further, Hajia Ramos said apart from learning the basis of sewing, they also learnt pattern drafting and recycling of waste into fashion.
“They went through a total of 5 and half months of training comprising 3 months for technical sewing. Two weeks for art and crafts. There weekly classes for business and marketing and the recycling class. They also went through business side of fashion, marketing and sales class. After their learning stage, they went for internship for four weeks at different fashion outfits.
“Alhamdulillah today, they are all happy. They are all wearing something great. Their instructors are also here. They were presented with their certificates of participation, sewing machines each and N50,000 startup capital.
“The best student male and female received N50,000 cash from anonymous donor while best supporting student received N25,000k. We are looking forward for another year. We want to appreciate the LEMU. We pray it counts on the day that matters the most,” she added.
The CEO of Why Waste It Academy said with what they have learnt, the graduands can start making money from the training and equipments given to them.
“They can make souvenirs for parties, household items even from waste. They can sell to students, working class people and other members of the public. They are on their way to start making sustainable earnings”, she said.
* Be honest in your dealings, LEMU President urges beneficiaries
LEMU President, Dr. AbdulGaniy Labinjo, congratulated the graduands and beneficiaries of youth empowerment initiative, urging them to be honest in their dealings and remain good ambassadors of Islam.
He said, “Youth Empowerment Sewing Graduation Ceremony is an annual event of LEMU. We are among the pioneer of this initiative before it was adopted by many across the country today. We have always believed that if you empower the youth, you’re empowering the nation.
“It has always been powered by the Zakat Committee, which received Zakat from well to do Muslims and a good proportion of the proceeds are disbursed for youth Empowerment in a very positive, objective and effective manner. Today, we are all testimony to the great work of the committee.
“Once again, I congratulate the beneficiaries who have been trained in the art of sewing and it’s my believe that the benefits received from the training will be productive. By the time they begin their journey in the fashion business, they will be successful.
“I urge them to be honest in their dealings and remain good ambassadors of Islam. In doing this, their customers will see something different about their conducts in the way they carry out their businesses. It’s our hope that in the near future, they will also become Zakat payers and be able to employ more people and contribute to the economy of the nation. May bless you all.”
Payment of Zakat increases man’s relationship to man, God: Imam Lekki
In his own reaction, Imam Dr. Ridwan Jamiu, Chief Imam Lekki, also gave thanks to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to successfully graduate another cohort of LEMU Empowerment opportunities.
He emphasized on the importance of Zakat in Islam, saying that Allah mentioned it together repeatedly with Salat in several verses of the Noble Quran.
According to him, “Islam is beautiful. That’s why in the Quran, when Allah talks about Salat, He follows it with Zakat. While Salat is between us and Allah directly, Zakat is between us and Allah indirectly, because it is carried out by man to man. In essence, our relationship must be good not to Allah but human beings as well, and that can be achievable through goodness. That’s when we can be good to people.
“For us to be good Muslims, there must be a good relationship between us and Allah; and then, to fellow humans. The way to support others is through payment of Zakat at when it’s due. We should always remember the needy. Whatever we give out will not reduce our wealth. It augments it with more barakah in it.
“We, therefore, recognise our Zakat payers. May Allah accept it from them as Ibadah (worship). To the Committee that has been disbursing the Zakat with honesty, may Allah reward them. I rejoice with the graduates of today and I congratulate them,” he added.
