Towards cushioning effects of the pandemic on humanity, the Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU) has empowered 226 persons with N60m. Over 47 million was disbursed to 197 people for empowerment and poverty alleviation; while over N3 million was disbursed to eight people on health grounds; the sum of N2 million was distributed among 11 beneficiaries for educational support; 10 people got the sum of N3 million for academic scholarship and N2.5 million was disbursed on youth empowerment.
Speaking during the 2021 disbursement programme, the Chairman, LEMU Zakat Committee, Alhaji Olalekan Saliu, expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to all donors for their sacrifice, generosity and magnanimity, reassuring them that the funds were in safe hands.
“The donors should be happy with themselves having fulfilled an important religious obligation as sincere and devout Muslims, and for providing great relief to those in need, the widows, the jobless, the helpless and the hopeless. Also, for putting smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries.
“I take this opportunity to reassure donors that they are in safe hands. I confirm that members of LEMU Zakat Committee are tested and experienced professional men and women who possess honour and unquestionable integrity. We would continue to work hard to ensure proper accountability and transparency regarding the funds entrusted into our care.”
He stated that a total of 226 beneficiaries were going to smile home with various items and amounts.
“Many of the recipients will be delighted to go home with cash, while others will leave this venue in a happy mood with the following items: 25 Sewing machines, 38 Deep freezers, 7 Tricycles, 6 Generators, 1 Desktop Computers, 2 Shoe-Making Industrial Machines, 1 Dispatch Motorbike, 1 Presser Machine and 1 Sealing Machine,” he added.
He admonished wealthy Muslims on the importance of Zakat, He said, “Please, permit me to remind the rich and affluent Muslims who, unfortunately for one reason or the other have not been able to pay Zakat. Let them wake up and join others in performing this charitable obligation, the third pillar of Islam as established in Qur’an 98: 5.”
Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Sheikh Ridwan Jamiu said Zakat is the bedrock of Muslim community.
According to him, if you look at the other pillars of Islam, they are very personal injunctions. But, Zakat is what Muslims are enjoined to give to others to empower them and ensure equity in the society.
“If Zakat is properly administered, there would be no need to experience the level of poverty we have in the society, because there are so many wealthy people. They are not blessed for themselves, but to assist others. They have the duty to pay Zakat and if they pay the right Zakat, the poverty rate will drop.
“We are not an Islamic state and things may not be exactly perfect. The Ummah in all corners should endeavour to do their best to ensure they touch their members and the society at large, so we can all ultimately reduce the level of poverty, especially among the Ummah, which we have almost accepted as normal, as if it’s only Muslims that are poor. We have more rich Muslims in Nigeria. So, there’s no reason Muslims should be seen as poor if we all pay Zakat and it is well administered,” he added.
LEMU President, Dr Kamaru Omotoso hailed the Zakat Committee for successfully putting together the disbursement exercise, despite the challenges mostly occasioned by the pandemic.
According to him, each year, members of the Zakat Committee sit and thoroughly go through applications as stipulated in the Qur’an. They try to adhere to the categories of beneficiaries as stated in the Qur’an. May Allah continue to give them the wisdom to continue the good work.
“On our own part, we don’t just want to stop distributing to the stipulation. In modern times, we are striving to make sure people’s pressing issues are solved through good use of Zakat. In no distant future, we want you to be a contributor of Zakat.”
Omotoso appealed to members of the Ummah, who have been doing theirs privately, to come together with LEMU Zakat Committee and contribute into the same purse for the purpose of expansion and doing it better.
He expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to all donors for their sacrifice, generosity and magnanimity, reassuring them that the funds were in safe hands.
“The donors should be happy with themselves having fulfilled an important religious obligation as sincere and devout Muslims, and for providing great relief to those in need, the widows, the jobless, the helpless and the hopeless.
“I take this opportunity to reassure donors that they are in safe hands. I confirm that members of LEMU Zakat Committee are tested and experienced professional men and women who possess honour and unquestionable integrity. We would continue to work hard to ensure proper accountability and transparency regarding the funds entrusted into our care.”
