The Abeokuta Chapter of Dawah Front of Nigeria, in collaboration with Amir Zakat Foundation, has distributed the 2026 Zakat totalling N11.8m to fifty beneficiaries in Abeokuta, the Ogun State.

At the 6th Zakat exercise held in Kobiti Central Mosque in Abeokuta, the beneficiaries, selected after a screening exercise based on their business needs and requests, received various Zakat items aimed at supporting small-scale businesses and improving livelihoods.

Items distributed included industrial sewing machines, manual sewing machines, refrigerators, grinding machines, weaving machines, laptop computers, generators, foodstuffs, clothing materials, Point-of-Sale (POS) machines, and cash support for business operations, among others.

Speaking during the exercise, Alhaji Musliudeen AbdulGafar, the National Coordinator of Dawah Front of Nigeria, urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items to grow their businesses and become financially stable enough to pay Zakat in the future.

Represented by the Deputy National Coordinator, Prof. Sheriffdeen Adewuyi, Alhaji Musliudeen also stressed the importance of sustaining the collaboration between Dawah Front of Nigeria and Amir Zakat Foundation, while encouraging Muslims to continue fulfilling the obligation of Zakat for the benefit of the less privileged in society.

The Abeokuta Chapter Coordinator of Dawah Front of Nigeria, Dr. Samsideen Ayanwale, commended Amir Zakat Foundation for its financial support towards the programme, noting that the foundation contributed ₦7 million to the initiative organised by the chapter.

Dr. Ayanwale further advised beneficiaries to maximise the use of the items provided and prayed for the growth and sustainability of their businesses.

Chairman of the Zakat Committee of the Abeokuta Chapter, Alhaji Surajudeen Fasola, disclosed that seventy-three (73) applications were received for the programme, while sixty-four (64) applicants participated in the screening exercise. 

He explained that fifty (50) beneficiaries were eventually selected after a thorough screening process.

Fasola added that forty-five (45) beneficiaries received their empowerment items immediately, while arrangements were being concluded for the remaining beneficiaries.

Secretary of the Zakat Committee, Yusuff Olugbade, expressed concern over poor documentation and presentation by some applicants during the screening process, urging future applicants to improve their submissions to increase their chances of benefiting from subsequent programmes.

Also speaking, the Consultant to the Committee, Alhaji Waheed Qadri, assured the leadership of Dawah Front of Nigeria that adequate monitoring mechanisms had been put in place to ensure beneficiaries properly utilised the distributed items strictly for business purposes.

In their goodwill messages, Alhaja Morufat encouraged Muslims to consistently pay Zakat from their wealth to support community development, while the pioneer Chairman of the Zakat Committee, Alhaji Oke, commended members of the committee for sustaining the empowerment initiative as a means of reducing poverty in the society.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Owolabi, appreciated Dawah Front of Nigeria and Amir Zakat Foundation for the support, promising that beneficiaries would make effective use of the items to improve their businesses and livelihoods.