Musa Na Allah Sokoto
The Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Commission (SOZECOM) has collected and shared zakat and endowments valued at more than three billion in the last couple of years.
Chairman of the Commission, Malam Muhammad Lawal Maidoki gave the figure at a one-day seminar on Zakat and endowment with Ulamas held at the conference hall of Government Girls College Sokoto recently.
He said over thirty thousand deserving needy and poorest of the poor benefited across all the districts of the state.
Malam Lawal explained that the one-day seminar was organized to acquaint participants with the scope of commission activities and to seek their input towards the improvement of zakkat and endowment collections to achieve the set objectives.
Malam Lawal spoke extensively on the significance of waqf which he said leaves no aspect of human existence untouched and stressed the need for all Muslims to make waqf out of what Allah has blessed them with.
He listed various waqf projects and properties received by the commission from individuals and groups which according to him include magnificent multiple purposes modern Islamic centers provided Qatar Charity Foundation in the Kalambaina area in the state capital.
Qatar Charity also intervened in the construction of congregational prayer Jumu’at Mosque and five daily prayers mosques and boreholes, provision.
He stated that the Qatari foundation also engaged in empowerment support projects in goats, grinding and sewing machines, tricycles, and blind sticks among others.
The Chairman further briefed the participants on education scholarships granted to state indigenes through the commission for both local and international students.
“I wish to thank all the district heads for their efforts in the collection and management of zakkat and endowment.
He charged the district heads particularly, the district’s zakat committees in Sokoto Garka, Tudun Wada, Barayar Zakkat, and Sokoto Sabon Birni in the state metropolis to rise up in the collection of zakkat and waqf as their performance remains far below expectations.
He commended the state government and the sultanate council for the continued support of the activities of the commission to achieve its core mandate.
The occasion featured questions and answers sessions with Islamic scholars, chief imams of Jumu’at mosques as well as religious organizations in attendance.
