Kano State Zakkat and Endowment Commission said on Saturday that it disbursed N16.1 million as Zakkat (alms) to 1,794 indigent persons last year.
The Director-General of the commission, Alhaji Sufiyanu Gwagwarwa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that N10 million was given to
1,000 needy persons in the first phase of the programme.
According to him, the sum of N2.5 million was distributed to 250 widows as assistance to enable them start small businesses.
“Each of the beneficiaries was given N10,000 as assistance to ameliorate his sufferings as well as to enable him start a business.
“The whole idea behind giving Zakkat to the poor is for them to use the money to establish some useful ventures which will make them self-reliant,’’ he said.
He said another N1.5 million was also distributed to another batch of 150 persons in addition to another N1.5 million disbursed to new converts to Islam and stranded travellers as assistance.
The Director General disclosed that the commission had also offset the medical bills of 44 patients amounting to N435, 000 during the same period.
He said the commission had equally assisted 200 Almajiris with the sum of 200, 000 to take proper care of themselves.
‘’Each of the 200 Almajiris was given N1, 000 to purchase some basic things such as sleepers, laundry and toilet soaps.’’
He called on wealthy persons in the state to pay their Zakkat promptly for onward disbursement to the poor and discourage begging.(NAN).