The Secretary-General, League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun state, Sheikh Tajudeen Adewunmi has called for regular payment of Zakat to reduce poverty in Nigeria.
The cleric who is also the Chief Imam of Ilaro, Yewa-North in Ogun State, attributed the high level of poverty to poor welfare.
He spoke at the 12th annual Zakat Distribution Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Egba/Yewa zone at Crescent, Muslim Professionals, Hall, Leme.
Adewunmi who spoke on the theme; “Returning to Allah: A Panacea to Economic Challenges in Nigeria, advised executives in-charge of Zakat Distribution to be sincere with the assignment given to them.
Adewunmi represented by one of the Islamic scholars in the state, Sheikh Kolawole AbdulRazaq urged them to ensure there’s equality while carrying out the screening.
He said ” if every Muslims in Nigeria can pay their Zakat as expected, the level of poverty will reduce drastically.
“Muslims who are eligible to pay Zakat should ensure they pay without delay. This will reduce the high level of poverty in Nigeria.
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This assignment given to you can either take you to heaven or hell, depending on how you handle it.
“To the beneficiaries, make sure what is given to you is used judiciously and sell no part of it in any form.
“And to the administrators of Zakat distribution to be sincere with the assignment given to them by making sure there is equality when carrying out screening.
“This assignment can either take you to heaven or hell, depending on how you handle it.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion , former President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Lateef Owoyemi called on Youths to engage in entrepreneurship in order to eradicate poverty among themselves.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Maruf Afuape urged all muslims to pay their Zakat as expected in order to reduce the level of banditry and Kidnapping in the country.
Afuape who is also the Patron of the foundation said “most of the atrocious activities in the country today, is as a result of poverty.
Speaking on behalf of Zakat and Zadaqat Foundation, Sulaimon Olagunju, explained that the total amount disbursed in Egba/Yewa Zone for this year Zakat Distribution is N7,643,300.
In the break down, he said no fewer than 53 persons were beneficiaries of the Zakat.
He said, one person was given accommodation; 42 got empowerment equipment and one person got Education support.
Olagunju added that the foundation paid for four persons’ debts while four other persons got Medical support; four and one person got person Waqf .
Dignitaries at the Zakat Distribution includes Wakilu Musulumi of Yorubaland/Edo and Delta, Alhaji Iskil Lawal, Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheikh Saa’dallah Bamigbola, Chief Imam, Central mosque Ayetoro, As-Sheikh AbdulGaniy Ajakore.
