ABOUT 84 individuals received funds and equipment for empowerment at the 16th zakat distributions ceremony of Ar-Rahman Zakat Foundation (AZF) held on Saturday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

The AZF chairman, Alhaji Abdul Mojeed Omotayo Omo Owo, said about N10 million collected in the course of the year 2021 was distributed to the beneficiaries whom he urged to justify their consideration by using the funds and equipment properly.

Omo Owo said his reason for setting up the foundation was to align with the provisions of the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.

He expressed concern that zakat, a critical economic and social security aspect of Islam, had been the most neglected of the five pillars of the religion.

The guest lecturer, Alhaji Dawood Amoo Alaga, commended Omo Owo and urged him not to relent in his responsibility as an ambassador of Islam, especially in upholding the institution of zakat.

Alaga called on all well-meaning Muslims to emulate the AZF chairman so as to reduce poverty “in our society because some Muslim countries have developed because of their positive attitude to zakat.”

The concessionaires complained of poor cooperation from state governments who mostly delay in meeting their own part of the agreement, for instance in the area of land provision.