Why FG, States must partner ZSF on poverty alleviation
… Stakeholders emphasise need to widen Zakat payer bracket
The very impressive activities of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, ZSF, in the area of collection and distribution of Zakat have been commended by all stakeholders, thereby necessitating a call on the Federal Government as well as states to partner with the management of ZSF in reducing the scourge of poverty.
ZSF has made it a routine habit of mentoring Zakat beneficiaries which has resulted into many Zakat beneficiaries now paying their Zakat.
With more funding and partnership from governments at all levels, ZSF will be able to impact more on millions of people.
In his message, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Timeline Consult and Z&SF Advisory Board member, Mr Shuaib Idris, called for more discipline among beneficiaries, urging them to diversify their business when necessary and seek for advice where needed.
Managing Director of Albarakah Microfinance bank, Alhaji Tajudeen Sekoni urged those doing business to always seek for financial education from expert and those with vast and wide range of experience. “We are always available at Albarakah Microfinance Bank to do the needed mentoring, do needed assessment and give necessary advice.” Sekoni concluded.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf, said that the collection and distribution of Zakat “is an obligation that all Muslims owe to Allah.
He therefore called on the beneficiaries to ensure they give their best in ensuring that they maximise their profits.
“The activities of the foundation, as an NGO, is geared towards contributing to nation-building. Just like being experienced in the conventional tax collection, there is need to widen the Zakat payer bracket.
“There are still many zakatable Muslims, who may not know that a foundation like ours exists who collect and distribute Zakat.
“It is, therefore, the duty of our current payers to introduce us to these categories of Muslims,’’ he said.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Director, Jaiz Charity Foundation, Abdullah Shuaib, said that it is expedient now to have a collaboration between Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation and Lagos State’s ministries of wealth creation, women affairs and poverty alleviations.
The Chief Imam of Lagos State, Shiekh Sulaiman Abou-Nolla’s representative and that of NASFAT’s Zakat arm commended Z&SF for their worthy initiative in the last fifteen years while praying for greater things in future.
The Foundation’s Operations Manager, Alhaji Ahmed Ma’aruf, said that the Sunday’s distribution in Lagos State was a culmination of this year’s Zakat distribution exercise which commenced in June, saying that other states would be captured in subsequent editions.
Other dignitaries at the event were Imam Trimidhi Jamiu, MD, Hajj Mabrur Ventures Alhaji Abdulhamid Solate, Alhaji Jamiu Ajala, Alhaji Modupe Abdulkareem among others.
Speaking with newsmen, some of the beneficiaries expressed their happiness and gratitude to Z&SF saying that they pray that there would be more funding for future Zakat distribution.
Several Tricycles, Deep Freezers, Computers, Sewing Machines, Grinding Machines and many other working tools were distributed.