JAIZ Charity and Development Foundation JCDF, a foremost company that executes Zakat payments paid into its account, in Akure Ondo state recently, disbursed to 55 beneficiaries cash and kind which, value totalled Five Million Six Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Naira (N5,625,000). The distribution was for their livelihoods and empowerment support. They collected items like deep freezers, sewing machines, grinding machines, vulcanising machines and chequeS-to-cash. Other thematic areas covered included medical support for beneficiaries, institutional support, educational support for students and accommodation intervention for beneficiaries. The statistical breakdown and data analysis of the distribution in Naira and kobo shows that economic empowerment ranked first. Institutional support was second, medical, education and accommodation interventions, ranked 3rd, 4th and 5th in that order. In his presentation at the events to justify why the foundation is involved in the distributions of Zakah funds across the six geopolitical Zone of Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer, JAIZ Charity and Development Foundation, Dr Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, had this to say: “We are committed to putting smiles on the faces of some of our compatriots struggling to survive the brunt of the economic hardship which has increased the rate of poverty in the country where unemployment, income inequality, poor education system, corruption and inflation coupled with the concomitant constant increase in the cost of food items has worsened the standards of living of the common man and woman. Given this unpalatable situation, Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation is distributing Five Million Six Hundred, Twenty-five Thousand Naira (N5,625,000) Zakat fund collected from well-meaning Nigerians and responsible corporate citizens to 55 beneficiaries for livelihoods and empowerment support. It is pertinent to reiterate the efficacy of Zakat which is one of the instrumentalities of Islamic social finance. A subset of Islamic finance as a tool to combat poverty, reduces inequality, redistributes income, provide employment opportunities and increase consumption that can lead to increase in production among others”.
The occasion was the first in the state. The Zakah, a socio-economic mechanism, is also a religious obligation incumbent on all eligible Muslims to discharge as commanded by Allah. “Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase, and invoke [Allah’s blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is hearing and knowing” Q9:103. Imam Abdullahi Shuaib urged the beneficiaries to use the Zakat funds or items judiciously with the utmost fear of Allah to attain financial independence and prosperity in the future. Among the Muslim dignitaries in attendance were Sheikh (Dr) AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede Al-Barakah, the Chief Imam of Akure Central Mosque, Alhaji Mustafa Abdul Qadir, the Seriki Musulumi of Akure, Mr Mudasiru Yusuf, the Branch Manager Jaiz Bank Plc, and Alhaji Jimoh Ibrahim Akindele the chairman Local Organising Committee(LOC).Reports by Abdulfattah Abdussalam