By Aliyu Usman, Birnin Kebbi
More than 6,136 orphans, widows, and other vulnerable individuals in Kebbi State have received food and cash donations as part of this year’s Zakat distribution program, officials said Tuesday.
The initiative, organized by the Kebbi State Zakat and Waqf Board, aims to provide relief to the less privileged during Ramadan. The beneficiaries were carefully selected by the board’s committee to ensure fair distribution, officials added.
Deputy Governor Senator Umar Tafida, who led the distribution at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi, urged wealthy individuals to contribute their share of Zakat, a compulsory alms-giving practice in Islam.
“Every wealthy person has a duty to purify their wealth by giving to the poor,” Tafida said. He also disclosed that Governor Nasir Idris has directed local government councils to allocate a portion of their monthly revenue to the Zakat and Waqf account to sustain support for orphans and those living in extreme poverty.
Governor Contributes N30 Million to Zakat Fund
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Zakat and Waqf Board, Sheikh Umar Isah, commended Governor Idris for reviving the board after years of inactivity.
“The governor has set an example by donating N30 million as his personal Zakat contribution,” Isah revealed. He also praised former Governors Adamu Aliero and Atiku Bagudu for their past support of the board.
Beneficiaries and Distribution Breakdown
According to Isah, the funds and food items were distributed across multiple local government areas:
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Yauri, Danko, Bagudo, and Zuru: Each recipient received N20,000 and a bag of rice.
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Birnin Kebbi: Eighty individuals from the state capital received the same amount of cash and food aid.
The event was attended by top government officials, Islamic clerics, and community leaders from Sokoto and beyond.
