The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has urged the rich to solve the problem of insecurity through adequate payment of Zakat as a veritable tool to fight poverty in the society.
Sanusi made this known during the Zakat distribution ceremony organised by Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation at the Emir’s Palace in Kano.
No fewer than 100 women benefitted from the gesture. Some of the items distributed include sowing and grinding machines, deep freezers and cash.
According to him, If Zakat is properly coordinated, it has the potency to reduce poverty in the country.
He recalled that during the regime of Second Caliph, Umar bn Khattab and fifth Caliph Umar bn AbdulAziz, no one was poor enough in their communities to receive Zakat because the one distributed in the previous year has made them to be self-reliant.
The money, he said, were sent to other countries.
“The same feat can be repeated during our own time if the rich people are paying their Zakat as at when due and are paying the exact amount and these funds were administered by competent and God-fearing people, it has the power to eliminate poverty. We have a model that has been practicalised. Islam is a practical religion,” he said.
He hailed the Jaiz Bank for establishing the foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social work.
“I thanked the foundation for bringing the distribution to Kano and given consideration to the women.”
He also urged the beneficiaries to make good use of items distributed to them in order to ensure they make good impact in the metropolis.
“The number of people that would be dependable will be reduced to the barest minimum level so that we can a peaceful society that will aid development,” he said.
Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation Director/Chief Executive Officer, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, said the foundation made the distribution for women only to tackle poverty at the grassroot.
“The focus of the intervention is basically for the economic empowerment of these women. Some of them are widows, some are married and some of them are singles. The total worth of the Zakat we gave out is N5million and this amount covers items such as 41 sewing machines, 50 grinding machines and eight deep freezers. Cash were given to other women basically for their economy empowerment,” he said.
According to him, men have benefitted in previous editions and would be considered for further disbursement.
Shuaib said: “After conducting our need assessment, we discovered that the number of people that required supports are majorly women and very few number of men. On the second thought, these women are equally people that need maximum support. Without any prejudice to the men because we believe the men also need support, but the women need more support than the men. What we have done was to raise the standard of living of the women and ensure that the women themselves take the lead in terms of raising the awareness of economic empowerment or entrepreneurship skill development to be able to bring something on the table.”
The foundation chief advised them to make judicious use of the items and the fund they have been given.
