The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) on Friday advised Muslims in the country not to wait until they have millions of naira in their accounts before they pay Zakat.
MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo gave this advise while speaking at a press conference to herald the 9th general assembly of the organisation.
The press conference was held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Payment of Zakat to the needy is the third pillar of Islam.
Zakat, according to the Muslims is to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
Oladejo, while addressing the journalists at the press conference, advised Muslims across the country not to wait until they have millions of naira in their accounts before they can pay the Zakat.
He said that prompt payment of Zakat would help to reduce poverty in the country.
He advised governments at all levels to make policies that will help to reduce poverty and other social ills in the country.
He added that the organisation is working to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in the South West geopolitical zone.
Oladejo while speaking further, maintained that one of the focal points of the organisation is to reduce out-of-school children in the zone.
“We are talking to many more Muslims to ensure that they pay Zakat to reduce poverty in the country.
“You don’t have to wait until you have one hundred millions of naira before you pay Zakat. These are some of the things MUSWEN is doing to encourage more Muslims to pay Zakat.
“Most of these Islamic organisations and groups, the Zakat they are collecting, they are using it to reduce poverty.
“This press conference has been convened, to sensitise the people of our upcoming, once in a year event, the 9th General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN).
“MUSWEN is the umbrella body for all Muslim Communities, Muslim Councils, Muslim Organisations, Muslim Institutions and indeed all Muslims, in the South West States of Nigeria: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States.
“The focal points of the organisation include ensuring zero tolerance for out-of-school children; Economic Empowerment and poverty alleviation; good health and well-being; provision of bursary and scholarship awards up to PhD levels; partnering with governments at all levels on good governance; bridging the gap between the affluent and the downtrodden; collaborating with other Muslim bodies in other parts of Nigeria and the world at large, among many other interventions for making lives of Muslims better and fulfilled. Since inception in 2008, we have attained some modest achievements, which we intend to take higher in the coming years.
“Gentlemen of the Press, this year’s General Assembly of MUSWEN, shall come up, in shaa. Llaah, at 11.00am on Sunday, 17th November, 2024.