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Tag: Zakat foundation

  • Zakat foundation gives hearing-impaired baby N6m

    They appeared with their relatives in a sober mood. Many were in pains because of their health challenges. Some shed tears when they listened to pathetic stories of others.

    But they all left the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) head office of a faith-based charity organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), in happiness on Tuesday.

    The 53 people with various health issues went home with N32 million courtesy of the foundation.

    Five-year-old hearing-impaired boy Ramadan Muhammed was the biggest beneficiary as his mother, Mrs Aminat Muhammed, received N6 million cheque from the foundation.

    Mrs Muhammed said Ramadan’s both hear are impaired and the doctor said he needs N12 million to fix them.

    “We detected the disorder when he was two years old. When I realized that, I took him to the hospital. On getting to the hospital the doctor said, he will have to undergo surgery to correct the disorder and the sum of N12 million will be required for the surgery,” she said.

    She thanked Zakat payers for the gesture.

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    “I am very grateful to Allah and ZSF for giving me N6 million out of the N12 million needed for the surgery. I pray to Allah to be pleased with Zakat payer for removing the burden from my son,” she said.

    Miss Ganiyat Sanni, a kidney failure patient lying critically ill at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) got N2.5 million.

    Her mother, Mrs Afusat Sanni said she needs N8 million for a transplant.

    She was shedding tears while recounting her daughter’s ordeal that started in 2014. Some of the people who came for assistance could not hold their emotion as they listened to Mrs Sanni – they cried.

    Mrs Sanni said she’s donating one of her kidneys to her daughter, saying: “I was advised to donate my kidney for her with a treatment cost of N8.5 million. I have raised N3.5 million before coming here. With this cheque, it remains N2.5 million to complete the cost of the surgery. Nigerians should assist to save the life of my daughter with the remaining N2.5 million. I don’t want her to die.

    “She is supposed to be writing the current Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) but she couldn’t due to her health condition. Right now, I just received a call from LASUTH that she needs blood transfusion urgently. Please save my daughter from dying.”

    ZSF Executive Director Prince Sulayman Olagunju at a short briefing before the disbursement of cheques to beneficiaries said the gesture was is in line with the foundation’s tradition of prioritising health and restoring the lost hope of the patients towards regaining their health.

    Olagunju said the beneficiaries require funds for urgent surgeries and treatments for heart diseases, kidney transplants, stroke, fractures, cancer of the breast and hip replacements, among others.

    “We sincerely feel the pains of those we could not consider after undergoing a series of screening exercises for lack of enough funds. We pray Allah to open His door of mercy for them,” he added.

  • Zakat foundation donates to Zaria orphanage home

    A faith-based humanitarian organization, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation has donated food and basic daily need items to Zaria Orphanage Home at Tukur-Tukur.

    The foundation donated the items including food, jumbo size diapers III, infant formula beverages and toys on Tuesday evening.

    Speaking while presenting the items, an official of the foundation, Hajiya Mujidat Abdul-Aleem Olagunju Rahim said the foundation “collects from the rich and gives to the poor.”

    Olagunju said they were in Zaria to give out to the orphan in view of the foundation’s 2018 theme “Giving to Orphanages”.

    She said: “We have earlier come to this orphanage home which is own by the Kaduna State Government under the Ministry of Women Affairs and they told us their needs. We saw that those in charge of the orphans are trying their best and that’s why we come back to support them to help them and the children.

    “We also brought a doctor, who had done medical test and found out that the children are all healthy except one.”

    In his sermon, Shiek Rabi’u Ayuba-As-Sudani advised Muslims to place emphasis on adequate care for orphans to enable the society live in peace.

    He said: “Care for the orphans is very crucial to human existence and a path to peaceful society. If Governments at all levels would start assisting the orphans, it will go a long way in solving societal ills.

    “Government had been spending money on security, yet, the desired result is not achieved and it is compulsory on government to improve the orphans’ welfare and take care of their studies and health.

    “If the society folds its arm and leave the orphans on their own, we will all dwell in sin and Allah (SWT) will not forgive us, therefore, it is incumbent on all of us to take care of the orphans.”

    He encouraged members of the society to ensure routine visit to orphanage homes to give the orphans a sense of belonging.

    Ayuba-As-Sudani observed that when orphans were neglected by the society, it was the same set of people that would negatively pay back through bomb attack, kidnapping, robbery, thuggery, terrorism and all other forms of threats.

    Responding, the officer-in-charge of the orphanage home, Mrs. Ester Bariat-James commended the foundation for the gesture and urged them to sustain the tempo.

    She said: “I am very impressed with the efforts of the foundation, when the person doing the running around came, I like the way we related as if we knew each other for a very long time. I am a Christian and she is a Muslim, I think that’s the way it supposed to be, there is nothing like segregation and listen to the sermon delivered by the Imam and am happy. I want to encourage us all in this nation to embrace one another and to live in peace and unity with one another and be our brothers’ keepers.”

  • Zakat Foundation empowers 21,038 with N111m

    Zakat Foundation empowers 21,038 with N111m

    A faith-based non-governmental organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) has disbursed the sum of N111 million to 21,038 beneficiaries across the South-east, South-south and South-west regions of the country.

    The disbursement ceremony, 11th in its series, was held at the Multi-purpose hall, Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Ikeja, Lagos.

    ZSF Executive Director Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, said the disbursement was meant to cater for medical and economic needs of the beneficiaries.

    Economic empowerment of Nigerians, Shuaib said, is a priority.

    This, he said, became necessary due to the level of poverty in the country where more than 67 percent of the 170 million population earn less than one dollar per day.

    He said corruption; unemployment and lack of social security for the poor, needy and aged have compounded the situation from bad to worse.

    Shuaib said: “The implication of this ugly scenario is that most of the applicants as well as the beneficiaries of today find it very challenging to meet up with their basic needs of life. Furthermore, the figures also indicate that most of the beneficiaries are extremely deprived of access to qualitative health-care facilities due to their financial constraints among others.

    “It is however gratifying to note that we have a new government at the federal level as well as a new regime in Lagos State that came with a change mantras to right the wrong of the immediate past administration and build a new culture of deepening the welfare of its citizenry and make their security one of the major policy thrusts of their administration.

    “As a development partner, we shall continue to deepen our social services delivery to the less-privileged; thereby complementing government services while adding values to the life of humanity which is one of the major themes of Islam – to love and care for those suffering from deprivation and lack of access to qualitative social services. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our humble way of walking our talk is the support we are giving to some of the beneficiaries present here.”

    Aside cheques presentation, some of the items distributed include industrial sewing machines, 14 deep freezers, four tricycles and one motorcycle. Also were grinding machine, a pop-corn machine, a laptop, a complete computer system, a binding machine, printer, scanner, among others.

    The executive director urged the beneficiaries to be self-disciplined with the Zakat fund as well as the items been given to them.

    “This can help you become self-independent in the nearest future and possibly employers of labour and not seekers of employment,” he said.

    Shuaib thanked the Zakat payers, charity donors, development partners such as An-Nur Eye Centre and Human Concern Foundation International.

    ZSF Board of Director chairman Prince Sulayman Olagunju said the policy thrust of the foundation is to add values to humanity and also to help the rich to enrich the poor.

    “For us at the Foundation, the socio-economic wellbeing of the less-privileged in our society is of utmost concern. And to deepen the quality services our field workers render to humanity, we shall continue to build the capacity of our staff-members across the country with a view to improving the social services delivery of the Foundation to Muslims and non-Muslims,” Olagunju said.

    Guest speaker Sheikh Imran AbdulMajeed Eleha, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of it, so that they would be able to pay Zakat in the near future for others to benefit.

    Sheikh Imran thereafter identified poverty and ignorance as two major problems bedevilling Muslims in Nigeria.

    His words: “Poverty and Ignorance are the two major challenges confronting Muslims in Nigeria. If we are to tackle ignorance among Muslims, there is an urgent need for the promotion of qualitative education. But as tackling poverty requires money, a whole lot of money too is also needed to curb illiteracy among Muslims. From this end, I want to advise the Foundation to promote knowledge that would positively be of benefit to Islam.

    “Therefore, I would suggest that the foundation earmark certain percentage of the Zakat fund for the sponsorship of Itinerant students of Islamic knowledge and also expend part of the fund to organise seminars to enlightened those scholars who in actual fact are ignorant of what the Quran and hadiths say and as such are promoting their selfish agenda thereby causing chaos and destruction in the society. After this, the Foundation should empower them financially to be able to sustain themselves as they propagate Islam”.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef hailed the foundation for its impact over the years.

    “One of the advantages of Zakat,” the commissioner said, “is that it enables equal distributions of wealth. Apart from this, it also creates wealth. In a society where there is crime, obviously, in such society there are no equal distributions of wealth. Therefore, one of the ways of balancing this is through the payment of Zakat where we take from the rich and give to the poor and it is being done here by the Foundation”.

     

    • The Message returns next week
  • Zakat Foundation to feed 35, 000 Muslims

    Zakat Foundation to feed 35, 000 Muslims

    A faith-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) has spoken of plan to feed no fewer than 35,000 Muslims across the Southwest under its Iftar Saim (meals for breaking fast) project.

    Its Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib said  N16 million has been budgeted for the project.

    Imam Shuaib said some of the Iftar Saim programmes include Public lectures/Seminars, distribution of food items, beverages, groundnut oils, sugar and milks among others to individuals, orphanage homes, physically challenged people and prison yards.

    He said the objective of the Iftar Saim was to create an enabling environment for indigent Muslims to actively participate in Ramadan Fast and give them a sense of belonging.

    Imam Shuaib added that the programme also aimed at providing a window of opportunity for wealthy to earn Allah’s blessings by assisting the less-privileged.

    This, he said, will make them maximise the rewards of the Holy month.

    “It is planned to facilitate genuine love and true spirit of brotherhood in Islam among Muslims of all walks of life and to foster unity through the instrumentality of Ramadan fast cum Iftar Saim,” he said.

    The Iftar Saim programme, the foundation boss said, will extend to Federal Capital Territory, Edo, Delta, Kwara and Niger states.

    Imam Shuiab thanked patrons and people who donated to the project, appealing to philanthropists and individuals to assist the needy during and after the month of Ramadan.

  • Zakat Foundation’s N340m lifts 3,450

    Zakat Foundation’s N340m lifts 3,450

    The Zamfara State Zakat Foundation has given N100, 000 each to 3,450 less-privileged people in Gusau, the state capital. The event was held at the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Muhammed Kabir Danbaba’s palace. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO writes

    Hajia Habiba lost her husband a year ago. Another tragedy struck when her shop was gutted by fire. She lost virtually everything. Her world crashed. But when hopes seemed lost, benevolence smiled on her. She was selected by the Zamfara Zakat Foundation as one of this year’s beneficiaries of the Zakat given out twice a year by Governor Azeez Abubakar Yari.

    On January 7, she was among the 3,450 needy in Zamfara State that received N100, 000 each. The gesture was part of proceeds from the state’s Zakat Foundation to help beneficiaries carry on with their vocations and businesses.

    The event held at the Emir’s Palace and was attended by top government functionaries, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other dignitaries within and outside the state.

    The palace square was filled to its capacity as children and adults climbed the fence and roof top just to catch a glimpse of the event. Recipients had gathered in their numbers as early as 7:00 in the morning.

    Governor Yari, who presented the gifts to the recipients revealed in Gusau that government distributed N345 million as Zakat to 3,450 needy people in the state in line with Qur’anic injunction. He said 15 beneficiaries were carefully selected from each of the 230 districts of the 17 emirate councils and each person received N100, 000 to start a business.

    Yari said the amount shared represents two per cent deduction from all contracts given by the state government during the year.

    “The balance of such deductions would be invested in business ventures by the board to generate more money to assist the needy in setting up businesses, arranging marriages and supporting medical bills. The state government intends to distribute the Zakat twice in a year.

    “Government will take serious measures against those who default in remitting their Zakat to the board.’’

    He stated that the programme was aimed at reducing the level of poverty among the less-privileged individuals in the society.

    The governor reiterated government’s readiness to use the state Zakat and Endowment Programme to reduce poverty among the less-privileged people. He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the gifts for the purpose they were meant for.

    He also re-affirmed his administration’s willingness to continue empowering the needy in order to alleviate poverty, even as he called on wealthy individuals in the state to continue support the Zakat board to enable it to improve on its people-oriented programmes.

    Governor Yari urged all well-meaning individuals to emulate the gesture exhibited by government towards ameliorating the suffering of the less-privileged people in the society.

  • Zakat foundation gives succor to indigents in Ibadan

    No fewer than 39 people benefited from the proceeds of Zakat in Ibadan , Oyo State capital on Sunday as Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) staged the maiden edition of its Zakat Distribution Ceremony (ZDC) at the Government Secretariat, Agodi. TAJUDEEN ADE-BANJO and WASIU ADEYEMI report.

    For AbdulSalam Hafeez, the joy of gaining admission into the University of Ibadan has been tempered by constant difficulty in sourcing funds to finance his undergraduate studies.

    A student of Economics, Hafeez’s joy knew no bounds the day he received his letter of admission, but when he thought of how and where to raise the money for his education, his spirit went down. Hafeez is indigent.

    Like him, Kasali Taiwo, is also facing his own financial challenge. A physically challenged person, Taiwo decided not to become a burden on the society, hence his decision to learn the art of shoe making. But as a cobbler, Taiwo is bereft of the needed tools to design and make shoes.

    The same financial limitation also affects Mrs Sariyu Lasisi, a trader who could not meet up with her customers’ increasing demand.

    Last Sunday, the burden of the trio and 36 others was reduced courtesy of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF).

    Taiwo got a shoe-making machine, Mrs Lasisi went home with Deep Freezer while Hafeez received cheque.

    The foundation is a non-governmental and not-for-profit organization established in 2000 and incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    ZSF is inspired by Islamic faith to provide welfare and humanitarian services to the poor and needy Nigerians.

    The House of Chiefs inside Governor’s Office, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan North Local Government was filled to capacity.

    Eminent Ibadan sons and daughters came in early for the foundation’s first Zakat Distribution Ceremony (ZDC).

    Among them were Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Council Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni; The Nation columnist and Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Media Committee Alhaji Femi Abbas; Alhaja Sekinat Tijani; Alhaji Isiaq Folorunsho; Alhaja Rahmatallah Olaegbe; Hajia Fasila Sulaiman and Hajia Fatimah AbdulWahab.

    The sum of One million, three hundred and thirty-seven thousand one hundred and eighty naira (N1, 337,180) were disbursed to 39 beneficiaries. Out of this amount, economic empowerment for the beneficiaries took 65 per cent;  some of the beneficiaries went home with sewing machine, welding machine, vulcanizing machine, washing machine and various cash awards among others to support their initiatives to become entrepreneurs and self-reliant.

    In his remarks, ZSF Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Imam Abdullahi Shuaib described as historic the arrival of Zakat foundation in Oyo State.

    “As some of you may be aware, we have organized similar ZDCs in Ebonyi, Anambra, Osun, Lagos, Abia, Bayelsa and Rivers States. Today, it is the turn of Oyo State for three reasons. First and foremost, we are here to identify with the less-privileged people of Oyo State who have suffered a lot of deprivations, marginalization and neglect; secondly, to bring the good news of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation’s readiness to wipe off their tears and soothe their pains and thirdly; to empower some of them economically so that they can attain economic independence and become self-reliant,” he said.

    Imam Shuaib said the foundation is committed to the welfare of the poor especially those living below $1US Dollar a day who are more than 63 percent of the over 160 million Nigerians that have been pauperized and traumatised by the mismanagement of the nation’s resources and bad leadership.

    He said: “Against this background, ZSF therefore intervenes by utilising the windows of Zakat (compulsory Alms-giving) and Sadaqat (charity) Fund to accomplish its welfare and humanitarian services to Muslims and non-Muslims suffering from abject poverty in the midst of abundant resources.

    “At ZSF, our commitments to the well-being of these Nigerians are driven by our passion to help add values to the life of the poor and needy people and to also complement the welfare service being rendered by government to its people.

    It is our fervent believe that when individual avoid the culture of extravagance and wastefulness such as indulging in expensive Aso Ebi, organizing multi-million naira marriage, burial and house warming ceremonies while corporate citizens of Nigeria also demonstrate genuine concern about the plights of more than 113 million poor Nigerians and give helping hands to them by donating part of their profits for charity; then, we would be seen as fulfilling our socio-economic and spiritual responsibilities to our brothers and sisters as enjoined by Prophet Muhammad who said ‘Whosoever wakes up in a day and does not feel concerned about the welfare of his fellow brethren, he is not one of them.’ If we all exhibit this kind of positive attitude and disposition to the less-privileged, we have no doubt that it will go a long way to add value to their lives and our country.”

    Imam Shuaib enjoined successful beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity at their disposal to be self-reliant in future.

    Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) Prof Daud Noibi described Zakat as a veritable tool for socio-economic integration, unity and national development.

    According to him, Zakat is likely to reduce jealousy and hatred towards the wealthy if well institutionalized.

    “The various vices that stand in the way of unity and progress are likely to be reduced to the minimum if not totally eradicated. This is likely to be fostered by the reduction of greed on the part of the wealthy, as the joyful payment of Zakat on a regular basis reduces the inordinate love of wealth,” Prof Noibi said.

    Former Oyo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Alhaji Adebayo Shittu praised the foundation for reviving the age-long prophetic tradition.

    “What the foundation gave out today are not below what politicians give to empower the people despite lots of fund allocated to them but here is an NGO without allocation from either Federal, State or Local Government empowering the people in the real sense, this foundation deserved commendation and be supported,” he said.

    The aim of Zakat, Shittu said, is to bring about practical redistribution of wealth.

    “During the time of Prophet Muhammad, poverty was eradicated through the instrumentality of Zakat. If we can replicate the same thing in Nigeria, we can also eliminate poverty in our country,” he said.

    A senior lecturer at the department of Education Foundation and Counseling , Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Dr Monsurat Musa described the foundation’s gesture as worthwhile.

    Dr Musa who is the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Public Relations Officers (PRO) said vices in the society will be reduced if the welfare of the populace is properly addressed.

    Taiwo thanked the foundation for the giving him hope to live a normal life, devoid of begging.

    “If more of people like me receive this kind of gesture, street begging will maximally reduced,” he said.

    Hafeez, a student of Economics said he can now concentrate on his studies without fear of funding.