Chief Executive Officer of Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, Dr Abdullahi Shuaib has said that over 100 million Nigerians are in multi-dimensional poverty.
This, he said, is due to a rise in inflation followed by the high cost of household items, food items, fuel, electricity and transportation.
He spoke during Zakat Distribution in Lagos where N15 million was disbursed to over 70 beneficiaries for empowerment, health, livelihood and educational intervention, among others.
Beneficiaries went home with deep freezers, industrial sewing machines, gas cookers, generators, laptops, and grinding machines.
Shuaib said the foundation was concerned about worsening living conditions of the vulnerable.
“Jaiz Foundation is inspired to wipe off tears and soothe pains of people”, he said.
He urged them to utilise either the zakat or items so the purpose of the intervention is attained.
Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i said the zakat institution was established to eradicate poverty and empower and reform society.
The scholar encouraged those eligible to pay their zakat.
“Those eligible should remove zakat from their wealth as and when due. The administrators should ensure only eligible beneficiaries enjoy it, just like Jaiz Foundation screens people. They have been doing a great job in the screening which I am also part of. The beneficiaries should use the proceeds for the right purpose and not divert it,” he said.
Executive Director of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Prince Sulaiman Olagunju praised Jaiz Foundation for putting smiles on the faces of the poor.
