Muslim foundation empowers less privileged persons in Ebonyi

By Douglas Okoro

The Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (Z&SF), a Muslim humanitarian organisation, and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have empowered no fewer than 44 indigent persons in Ebonyi.

The empowerment programme was held on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The foundation based in Lagos said that the empowerment initiative was part of its humanitarian programmes aimed at reducing poverty.

It also aimed to empower the poor and needy by engaging them in economic activities.

Dr Haroun Aja, leader of Muslim community in Ebonyi and Vice President-General of NSCIA, South East, commended the foundation for choosing Ebonyi as one of the states in the Southeast to benefit from the gesture.

Aja said that Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and stressed that those who practice it always received a double of what they gave as Zakat.

He said the empowerment initiative was aimed at creating opportunities for the less privileged to participate in the economy and improve their earning potential in order to assist their families fight their way out of poverty.

He advised beneficiaries to make judicious use of materials given to them to justify the purpose.

He said that the foundation had constituted monitors that would monitor the use of the items,  noting that the organisation would not hesitate to retrieve any of the items not being properly utilised by beneficiaries.

Aja said that beneficiaries were drawn from Muslims and non muslim members of the society, adding that over 72 persons were screened, while 44 persons were selected to benefit.

“The Zakat and Sadaqat distribution ceremony holding in Ebonyi is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and economic viability of our people and assist us in our effort to be self-reliant without relying on anybody after the Almighty Allah.

“The zakat and sadaqat is a great institution we have in Islam and the organisation is really justifying the principle of charity by practicalising it.

“When we say that Islam is built on five principles; all the principles of Islam that Allah has put in place are not for His benefit, but for our own benefits.

“So, when we practise  zaka and sadaqat, we are doing good to ourselves and not to Allah because He has commanded us to do it,

“I urge beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items in order to become givers of zakat and sadaqat,” Aja said.

He decried alleged exclusion and discrimination of Muslims in political appointments and empowerment programmes under the current  the Ebonyi state government.

He urged Muslim faithful to vote for political leaders that would protect their interest in the 2019 general elections.

The Executive Director of Z&SF, Mr Suleiman Olagunji, while distributing the empowerment materials,  explained that the programme was aimed at maximising growth opportunities among the less privileged and support them to reach their full potentials.

He said that Islam is committed to universal brotherhood and peace,  saying that the programme was part of efforts to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Olagunji urged beneficiaries to use the machines for the purpose for which they requested for them in order to lift themselves from the clutches of poverty.

“The rate of poverty in the society is killing and we must do everything possible to address the poverty level.

“When you give zakat, you will receive the double of whatever you have given because it is more blessed to give than to receive and Allah has commanded us to do this.

“Muslim believes in taken from the rich to give to the poor and needy and so what we are doing today is to give to our poor brothers and sisters through empowering them to be self-reliant and self-sustained.

“As little as it is convenient for you, take a little and give to the poor and by so doing you will practice love,” Olagunji said.

Z&SF foundation later distributed seven butterfly brand of sewing machines, two giant grinding machines, two washing machines, a deep freezer, lap top computers and printers to 11 beneficiaries,  while 33 persons received cash.

Mr Abdulraham Ede and Miss Memunat Usman, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, commended the foundation and promised that they would use the items judiciously to enhance their economic status.