No fewer than 20,800 individuals were beneficiaries of the empowerment fund of a faith-based humanitarian organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) across the country.
ZSF Executive Director Prince Sulayman Olagunju disclosed this yesterday at 12th Zakat Distribution Ceremony held at the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
Of the figure, 700 beneficiaries from Lagos went home with various empowerment items and cheques.
These include tricycles, motorcycles, grinding and sewing machines and refrigerators.
Lagos beneficiaries, Olagunju said, gulped N68, 771,218, amounting to 77 per cent of the entire N102,251,490 disbursed in the Southwest region of the country.
He noted that the foundation was exerting more energy in the areas of economic empowerment and medical support.
According to him, a total amount of N16,713,372 was spent to take care of the medical needs of various applicants, adding that N7,350,000 was disbursed to 20 finalists of the foundation’s youth empowerment scheme tagged “ Business Plan Competition.”
“We have been able to engage many unemployed youth by providing them with tools and cash to set up their businesses while we have equally restored hope to those who have various illnesses,” he said.
He, however, expressed delight that some beneficiaries of last year’s disbursement have started paying their own Zakat to the foundation.
“For example, five people among those who collected Zakat last year have started paying their own Zakat and we have some of them who are paying Sadaqat even though it might be small, we just try to continue encouraging them and supporting them.”
Occasion chairman Alhaji Mumini Alao, said the significance of Zakat in Islam is to ensure empowerment of the poor and even distribution of wealth.
Alao, the Group Managing Director of Complete Communication Limited, urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the fund.
He said: “Don’t see this fund as a bonus or fall-out or an opportunity to finance projects other than what the fund was meant for. Don’t spend it unwisely. Those who are paying this Zakat take proper care of their investment and that’s why they are able to pay Zakat, hence you should be prudent in spending the fund.
“The idea is for you all to graduate from the level of recipients to payers of Zakat because giving is absolutely better that taking.”
Guest speaker, Imam Abdullah Shuaib also advised the beneficiaries to be sincere with the fund and items they have been provided.
He urged Muslims in the country to pay their Zakat to the right channel, urging Zakat organisations to explore all avenues at ensuring the disbursement of the fund to people who deserve access to the fund.
“Be wary of misapplication of the resources you receiving today. Don’t’ start acquiring liabilities. Acquiring only assets that will make you grow in your business in order to make yourselves self-reliant,” he said.
