Zakat 2026 Empowerment: We Are Targeting 28 States, Says Foundation

From Nnabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, an Islamic organisation, has said it is targeting 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states in its 2026 empowerment programme for Muslim faithful across the country.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Alhaji Prince Suleman Olagunju, disclosed this at weekend during this year’s Zakat empowerment programme held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Olagunju noted that Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, is designed to empower the less privileged within the Muslim community, stressing that skill acquisition and the payment of school fees remain key areas of focus.
According to him, “Our Zakat programme this year has been extended to 28 states, including Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“In the South-East and South-South, we are yet to reach Anambra and Cross River states, while nine states have already been covered.
“In the North-East, only Gombe and Borno states have been reached, while in the North-West, Kebbi State is the only state yet to be covered. Also, we have not covered Plateau State in the North-Central zone.
“It is the prayers of the beneficiaries that continue to drive our annual progress.
“That is the way we can further eradicate poverty among us. I urge the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the support they have received and also become members of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation by contributing their own quota to assist other less privileged Muslims once they begin to make profits from their businesses.
“In Ebonyi State, we provided empowerment materials to 16 beneficiaries, while nine others received cash support. Some of those who received cash assistance were students who could not afford the fees for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations, such as WAEC and NECO, but they can now pay those fees” he stated.
Earlier, the leader of the Muslim community in the South-East, Alhaji Haruna Ajah, while giving a background to the programme, explained that Allah instituted Zakat as one of the five pillars of Islam to address the challenges faced by Muslims in Nigeria.
He said: “For society to be peaceful, everyone cannot be the same or equal. What Zakat does is help create balance among our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
Speaking with Insideoutnewsnh.com the Muslim Women Leader of Umuekumanyi Block, Nana Fradasi Onyema, called on the Foundation to also consider addressing unemployment among Muslim youths.
She said: “We are very happy to witness this programme in Ebonyi State today. However, another area I am appealing to the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation to look into is employment opportunities for unemployed Muslim brothers and sisters.”
Olagunju was represented at the event by Alhaji Misbaudeen Ismail, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation.