An Islamic charity organization, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, on Sunday gave succor to the needy in the society particularly widows, orphans, old women and men in Osun State.
The gesture is amid at giving hope despite the ongoing socio-economic challenges in Nigeria.
The foundation distributed cash worth N2.4m and dashed out valuable empowerment equipment and material items worth N1.5m to 47 beneficiaries in Osun State and encouraged Muslims to always pay their Zakat.
The foundation also encouraged the rich, particularly the Muslims, to promote the social responsibility of helping the less privileged so as to reduce poverty in society.
Speaking at the 14th distribution of Zakat at Osamdo Hall in Osogbo, the Osun State Admin Officer, Mallam Mashood Olaoye, said the foundation is saddled with identification of the needy in society and disbursement of incentives gotten from the rich to them.
He said, “Zakat is a compulsory charity for the well-being of Muslims. Once you have stipulated the amount of money for the year after you paid your expenses, then Zakat is compulsory. These incentives, be it money or materialistic, are collected, we identify the needy in society and distribute them. We have been on it since the year 2000. We are focused on the empowerment of the people.”
While speaking, Prof. Shuaib Osunleke from Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, said the love of humanity as taught by Islam should not be forgotten.
According to him, “it would be very absurd for one to be enjoying while someone beside him is in abject poverty. That would not depict one as a good Muslim and Almighty Allah may not forgive such individuals. Wealth anyone is endowed with, no matter how little, is not meant for such individuals alone but also for people around them.
“Though I agree that poverty may not be out-rightly eradicated but I think it can be reduced to the bare minimum. That is the essence of programmes such as this. There is love in sharing. I am happy that programme reinforces one of the five pillars of Islam,” he added.
Dignitaries at the event are; Oba Rasheed Olabomi Odundun, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, represented by High Chief Okunlade Ogunsona, Alawo of Awo Land, HRM Oba Abdur-Razaq Taiwo Ajibade, the Olororuwo of Ororuwo, Oba Qamaruddeen Adeyemi Adeyanju, the Secretary to State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, represented by Prince Oyetunji Tijani and Alhaji Qadir Hammed, the Mufasiru of Osogbo, Sheikh Abdul-Lateef Oladotun, the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Justice, Alhaja Morufat Adekemi Bello and host of many others.
Empowerment equipment distributed includes cash grants, sewing machine, industrial weaving machine, stoning machine, grinding machine, gas cylinder, freezer and many others.
See photos below:
