* YABATECH Rector, community leaders, others commend initiative’s impact, focus
* We are building a just, empowered society, says Safiyyah Shuaib
“Today is a day of thanksgiving, reflection, and renewed commitment to the ideals of compassion, service, and social responsibility,” declared Dr. Abdullahi Shuaib, a renowned Islamic finance and zakat management expert, at the official unveiling of the Abdullahi Shuaib Foundation (ASF) held on Saturday, June 13 in Lagos.
Family members, friends, associates, partners and beneficiaries gathered at the Main Hall of LKJ Gardens, Lagos, to witness the inauguration of the foundation, which coincided with the disbursement of over ₦17.6 million in zakat funds to 69 beneficiaries.
Dr. Shuaib, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the newly established foundation, expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah (SWT) for making the occasion possible, describing it as a demonstration of what can be achieved when people unite around a common purpose of supporting humanity and uplifting those facing hardship and deprivation.
“It is a day that demonstrates what can be achieved when individuals come together with a common purpose to support humanity and uplift those facing hardship and deprivation,” he said.
Muslim News gathered that Dr. Shuaib has spent several decades at the forefront of zakat administration and Islamic philanthropy in Nigeria.
He previously worked with leading faith-based institutions, including the Zakat Foundation and, more recently, the Jaiz Development Foundation, where he played key roles in advancing Islamic social finance, poverty alleviation and community development initiatives.
Speaking on the motivation behind the establishment of the foundation, Dr. Shuaib said the initiative was conceived as a legacy project and a means of securing continuous rewards in the hereafter.
“We have to prepare for our tomorrow because death is inevitable. That is what led to the formation of this foundation after consultation and deliberation with my family and close friends.
“I have a consultancy firm that I run, but this one is for my tomorrow. It will continue as a Sadaqat Jariyah after I have gone. That is why I have brought my children to work in different capacities so that the vision can continue beyond me,” he explained.
The founder expressed delight over what he described as the remarkable success of the foundation’s maiden zakat mobilisation and distribution exercise. According to him, the achievement was particularly significant because it was accomplished within a relatively short period of mobilisation.
The foundation’s chairman noted that the inauguration comes at a time when many Nigerian households are facing severe economic hardship occasioned by inflation, rising food prices, unemployment and declining purchasing power.
He lamented that many families now struggle daily to meet their basic needs and stressed that the foundation seeks to play a meaningful role in addressing these challenges.
Dr Shuaib appealed to affluent individuals, corporate organisations, professionals, entrepreneurs, community leaders and development partners to deepen their support and collaboration with the foundation.
Addressing beneficiaries, he prayed that the support received would bring relief and create opportunities for greater stability and prosperity.
“To our beneficiaries, we thank you for the trust you have placed in the Foundation. We pray that the support received today brings relief, creates opportunities and serves as a stepping stone toward greater stability and prosperity for you and your families.”
We are building a just and empowered society, says Safiyyah Shuaib
Speaking at the unveiling, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Foundation, Hajia Safiyyah Shuaib, described the occasion as an important milestone in promoting compassion, responsible stewardship and collective action to address the challenges facing vulnerable members of society.
She said the foundation was established with a vision of building a just and empowered society through Islamic social finance, knowledge and responsible governance.
According to her, the organisation remains committed to supporting underserved communities through zakat, sadaqah, waqf development, humanitarian assistance, education, economic empowerment, research and advocacy.
Hajia Safiyyah, who is the first daughter of the foundation’s chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Shuaib, said the initiative is guided by the motto, “Empowering Communities, Advancing Compassion.”
She revealed that the foundation successfully mobilised ₦17,688,663.66 for its maiden intervention programme, which benefited 69 individuals across various communities.
According to her, each beneficiary received support valued at an average of about ₦272,133.
Some beneficiaries received items including four deep freezers, three industrial sewing machines, a sewing machine and a laptop, while others were presented with cheques of varying amounts.
Presenting an overview of the programme, the CEO said economic empowerment recorded the highest allocation both in terms of funding and number of beneficiaries. Education support emerged as the second largest intervention area, followed by humanitarian assistance and medical support.
Beyond the statistics, she said the true impact of the programme lies in the lives transformed through the interventions.
She said the assistance would enable students to continue their education, help widows and vulnerable families meet their needs, support entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses and provide patients with access to essential healthcare services.
YABATECH rector urges expansion of empowerment programmes
Also speaking, Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, commended the initiative and described it as a worthy intervention that would benefit communities and contribute to poverty reduction.
He recalled his relationship with Dr. Abdullahi Shuaib during his time as Director of the Centre for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship at YABATECH, noting that he was instrumental in supporting skills acquisition programmes through the Jaiz Charity Foundation.
According to him, the initiative of sponsoring vocational training and subsequently empowering beneficiaries with start up tools has since gained wider acceptance and is now being adopted by governments and development institutions.
Dr. Abdul said the foundation would inspire many affluent Nigerians who desire to support humanitarian causes but may not know how to go about it.
He stressed that the country requires more interventions in skills development and economic empowerment, especially for young people seeking opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.
Dr. Abdul urged individuals and organisations with the means to support skills acquisition and business start ups, noting that such efforts would significantly reduce poverty and unemployment across the country.
Stakeholders call for increased support to boost beneficiary coverage
Also speaking, Chairman of the LKJ Estate Muslim Community, Dr. Mushafau Adewale Akinsanya, described the initiative as the first of its kind within the estate and praised the founder for bringing such a laudable programme to the community.
While applauding the success of the maiden edition, he expressed hope that more individuals and organisations would partner with the foundation to increase the number of beneficiaries and expand its impact.
Representing her husband, a close friend of the founder, Dr. Qudrah Ogunmuyiwa said the launch of the foundation did not come as a surprise because social intervention and humanitarian service have always been at the core of Dr. Shuaib’s life’s work.
She encouraged him to sustain the initiative and suggested that the foundation devote additional attention to supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who struggle to pay school fees or acquire vocational skills.
In his remarks, Professor Sosanya, a resident of LKJ Estate and member of its Board of Trustees, described the foundation’s maiden intervention as historic and impactful.
He said he was amazed by the scale of the support provided, noting that nearly ₦20 million was distributed to beneficiaries during the event.
According to him, the intervention would restore hope, dignity and self reliance among vulnerable individuals while inspiring others to contribute to similar causes.
Several beneficiaries, including both Muslims and non Muslims, also expressed appreciation to the Abdullahi Shuaib Foundation for the support received.
They prayed for Allah’s continued blessings upon the founder, donors and management of the organisation and pledged to make productive use of the assistance provided to improve their lives and support their families.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
Nigerian Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
Global Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
