The Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation (ZSF) has empowered dozens of indigent residents in Kwara State through its annual zakat distribution programme aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting self-reliance.
Speaking during the event held in Ilorin, the state coordinator of the foundation, Engineer Ariyo Bashir Olalekan, said the initiative was funded through contributions from wealthy individuals who fulfilled their zakat obligations.
“This is an annual accountability event,” he said. “We are distributing over N17 million worth of zakat collected for 2025 to selected beneficiaries across the state.
“About 50 percent of it goes into economic empowerment, 20 percent to health support, another 20 percent to education, and 10 percent for debt relief,” he explained.
Olalekan said the foundation adopted a rigorous screening process to identify deserving recipients.
The coordinator, who is also a Chief Technologist, University of Ilorin, said out of over 450 applicants, 69 were shortlisted after a multi-stage interview and verification process that included business proposal assessments and community attestations.
“Applicants were placed into groups and invited for interviews. They submitted and defended business proposals, and their forms were reviewed by a committee. Religious leaders from their communities also provided endorsements to validate their identity and needs,” he stated.
He emphasized that the selection was guided by considerations such as marital status, family support systems, and the viability of business ideas presented.
“We gave priority to widows and those without any support system. The aim is to provide long term relief by enabling them to earn a living and eventually become zakat payers themselves,” he added.
The organisers also advised beneficiaries to make good use of the support received and resist the temptation to sell donated items.
“They should use these materials sincerely and judiciously,” Olalekan said. “That is how to appreciate the mercy of Allah and position themselves to become helpers of others tomorrow.”
Beneficiaries received various items including industrial sewing machines, deep freezers, generators, foodstuffs, medical and health support, and other business tools to enable them to become self-sufficient.
Earlier, the Guest Lecturer, Imam Luqman Mukhtar Isale Koto, called for broader collaboration among zakat focused organisations in Nigeria.
He stressed the role of zakat as a religious tool for social justice and poverty eradication.
“Poverty is like cancer in society. When people cannot feed, they act desperately. But if we empower the less privileged and support them in starting small businesses, we can reduce insecurity and restore dignity,” he noted.
Citing the example of the Islamic Caliph Umar Ibn AbdulAzeez, the University of Ilorin staff said effective and fair zakat administration can completely transform a nation’s socio economic condition.
He called on wealthy Nigerians to see giving as a religious responsibility and urged zakat groups to harmonise their efforts for greater national impact.
“We must unite our efforts to build a strong credible platform that the rich can trust and support. When they see the impact, they will give more,” he said.
Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Muhammed Abdulkadir, said the event was his happiest day having been seeking support and struggling to get an industrial sewing machine to boost his business for years.
“I just decided to give it a trial and today I am going home with the machine worth over N350,000. I don’t even know what to say because it is still like a dream to me.
“But my prayer is for Almighty Allah to reward everyone behind this action and let the foundation continue to grow,” he submitted.
