By Rabiu Murtala Hamza
Amidst rising hardship in Nigeria, Islamic social finance and welfare organisations have gathered in Hadejia, Jigawa State for two days conference, aiming to proffer religious based solution to lack of safety net.
The Association of Zakat and Waqaf Operators in Nigeria (AZAWON) is advocating the institutionalisation of holy social welfares system in Nigeria as part of the government’s efforts to tackle widening inequality gap.
Daily Commerce reports that Nigeria is contending with rising inflation, pushing 24 million people below the national poverty line as index rose from 40 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2023, according to the World Bank’s data.
Hosting the leadership of AZAWON in his palace on Thursday, the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubukar Maje, stressed the significance of the conference to fighting grassroots poverty.
The Emir who expressed confidence in the success of the event, said the conference underscores state governments’s dedication to fostering Islamic social finance and welfare systems.
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AZAWON which is the umbrella body for Zakat and Waqf institutions in Nigeria, is holding its 4th National Conference under the theme “Application of Islamic Alternatives to Welfare System in Nigeria”.
In his address, the Chairman of the Association, Malam Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, expressed gratitude to the Emirate, Jigawa State Government, for the support to see the success of the conference.
The conference which commenced on Friday, attracted participants from Zakat Commissions, Waqf Foundations, Islamic Banking and Finance institutions in the country.
The conference will feature presentations by famous scholars, including Professor Umar Sani Fagge, Professor Salisu Shehu, the acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and others.