Lotus Bank, Ibile Muslims Community launch foundation to support the less-privileged

In a bid to cater to the needs of deprived members of society and empower people economically, prominent Lagosians, religious leaders, government officials, stakeholders and other members of society on Saturday, 6 July 2024 gathered at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, to launch Ibile Muslims Community Zakat and Sadakat Foundation.

In his welcome address, the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State and Chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, Sheik Sulaimon Abou Nolla, emphasised that the foundation is a beacon of hope that symbolises a collective responsibility towards one another. He noted that the Ibile Muslims Community Zakat and Sadakat Foundation aims to extend a helping hand to those in need, support the vulnerable and foster a sense of solidarity and brotherhood within the Muslim community.

Sheik Sulaimon Abou Nolla The Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State and Chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees

Chief Tunde Folawiyo, the chairman of the occasion, expressed his enthusiasm for the inauguration of a foundation dedicated to the needs of vulnerable Muslims in Lagos State. He also highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to ensure that the process is flexible, durable and accessible, enabling intended beneficiaries to receive the assistance they truly need.

Alhai Muhammad Adisa, a member of the Steering Committee, highlighted the foundation’s products, which include zakat from wealth, voluntary sadaqah, and awqaf-sadaqah jariya (continuous charity). He emphasised that the generated funds would be used to alleviate the needs of community members. The guest speaker, Prof. Abdulrazzaq AbdulMajeed Alaro, advised that the criteria set by the foundation’s board of trustees must be strictly followed without leaving room for lobbying. He added that global best practices should be adopted to determine eligibility, avoid payment duplication, increase coverage, improve verification processes, and enhance transparency and accountability.

                 Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq Onikijipa

Kafilat Araoye, the Managing Director of Lotus Bank and a member of the foundation’s board of trustees disclosed that the bank is collaborating with Ibile Muslims Community Zakat and Sadakat Foundation to provide financial, administrative and technical support, as well as ensure that funding from multilateral agencies and donors is secured. She assured that the selection process would be transparent and unbiased, and expressed optimism that women would particularly benefit from the initiative.

               Kafilat Araoye, the Managing Director of Lotus Bank

The Ibile Muslims Community Zakat and Sadakat Foundation, an initiative supported by Lotus Bank, aims to empower families to overcome hunger, provide students with resources to pursue education, break the cycle of poverty, make healthcare accessible, enable widows to live with dignity and significantly transform lives and communities.

Blessing Agbeetan
Women Radio 91.7
news@wfm917.com