By Daniel Obaje
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Umma Zakat Foundation to uphold the trust reposed in it with sincerity, justice, accountability and compassion.
The Sultan, who is the President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, gave the advice on Thursday during the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Umma Zakat Foundation/Unveiling of the Easy Zakat App in Abuja.
The traditional ruler, represented by the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Yamusa III, emphasised that Zakat administrators must remain faithful to the principles of transparency and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.
According to him, proper management of Zakat resources is essential to ensuring they reach the intended beneficiaries and positively impact the lives of the less privileged.
The Sultan also called on the foundation to remain mindful of the welfare of vulnerable members of society while promoting fairness and public confidence in the administration of Zakat.
He described Zakat as one of the pillars of Islam and a divine instrument for justice, equity, compassion and societal protection.
“The foundation is a timely initiative aimed at harmonising Islamic obligations with contemporary realities through technology.
“Zakat is far more than an act of charity; It stands as one of the pillars of Islam, a divine command and a profound tool for justice, equity, compassion and societal protection.
“Through Zakat, our faith offers enduring pathways to alleviate poverty, support widows and orphans, care for the ill, uplift those in hardship and uphold the dignity of the Ummah.”
According to him, the creation of this foundation is both timely and commendable as it represents a huge effort to harmonise our internal Islamic duties with the challenges and opportunities of contemporary life.
“Through the Easy Zakat web and mobile platform, Muslims are now empowered to fulfil these sacred obligations with ease and transparency, ensuring that Zakat reaches those most deserving.
“You are not simply custodians of an institution, but guardians of a sacred duty and bearers of the hope of the poor, the vulnerable and the underserved.
“I urge you to uphold this trust with sincerity, justice, accountability and mindfulness of others,” he said.
The Sultan also urged the board to embrace innovation while ensuring that vulnerable persons without access to digital technology were not excluded from benefiting from the initiative.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad, the Emir of Argungu, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Umma Zakat Foundation, said the Easy Zakat Platform was designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in Zakat administration.
He said the platform was not only a payment channel but also a governance tool that enabled donors to track their contributions and ensure effective delivery to beneficiaries.
“Zakat is not merely a charity, it is an obligation ordained by Allah, a pillar of Islam and a powerful instrument for social justice, poverty reduction, dignity and community solidarity.
“Through the Easy Zakat Platform, we aim to make it easier for Muslims to calculate their Zakat, make secure contributions and confidently support eligible beneficiaries.
“As a board, our responsibility is to protect this trust; we will ensure that technology is supported by proper governance, Sharia guidance, beneficiary verification, financial oversight, periodic reporting and independent review.
“The app will provide the transparency, while the Board will provide the stewardship, supervision and accountability required to safeguard people’s donations,” Muhammad said.
He called on Muslims, philanthropists, financial institutions, corporate organisations and development partners to support the foundation in expanding access to education, healthcare, economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, commended the initiative and pledged the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate with the foundation in advancing sustainable development.
Bagudu expressed the ministry’s willing to align the foundation’s activities with government development programmes and facilitate partnerships with development partners.
According to him, religious institutions and community-based organisations have critical roles to play in complementing government’s efforts to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.
“Those people we are trying to help do not seek dependency, they seek opportunity.
“We should ensure that we empower them to become Zakat givers rather than create dependency,” the minister said.
He added that government would continue to engage stakeholders to ensure development interventions complemented one another and deliver greater impact.
In a presentation titled, Serving Humanity Through Social Finance, Dr Sam Agbo, said the initiative was aimed at transforming charitable giving into sustainable community empowerment.
Agbo said the platform adopted a bottom-up approach that encouraged communities to take responsibility for their development while leveraging Islamic social finance.
According to him, the objective is not merely to provide charity but to empower vulnerable persons to become productive and self-reliant.
“We are not just launching a platform, we are providing an opportunity for inclusive participation driven by the people themselves,” Agbo said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab