By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
The Katsina State Government will soon pass a law, establishing a Zakkat and Waqaf Commission as an agency in the State Civil Service.
The gesture aimed at empowering the existing Katsina Zakkat and Waqaf Board to effectively coordinate the activities of Zakkat’s disbursement, in the near future.
According to a statement issued by Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, spokesperson to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda revealed that Governor Radda made this known while laying the foundation of 400 housing units for orphans and displaced persons at Dandagoro in Batagarwa local government area of the State.
Radda appreciated the Chairman of Atta’awwun Islamic foundation for initiating the project, assuring that the State Government and the 34 local government areas would contribute N100,000,000 million, representing ten percent of the project’s total cost as he announced a personal donation of N5,000,000 million to the endowment fund,
“Let me acknowledge the N10,000,000 million donated by our renowned business mogul, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, alongside the N500,000 of my Chief of Staff, among others,” he said, while seeking more financial assistance from spirited Katsina personalities, for the endowment fund.
Chairman of Atta’awuni Foundation and the initiator of the housing project, Dr. Ahmad Musa Abdullahi, said their project consists of 400 housing units, a school for both western and Islamic education, a Health Centre.
“There is also going to be a Skills Acquisition Centre, and a nursery belt for nursing and selling economic trees,” he added.
Dr. Musa Abdullahi, announced that their endowment fund had so far generated over N200,000,000 million, while thanking Alhaji Bature Ahmed Kofar Bai for donating the 2.5 hectares of land for the project.
He further appreciated the contribution received from not only the Katsina Muslim community, but from neighboring Niger, Ghana, America and Saudi Arabia.
On his part, the Head of Zakkat and Waqaf at Atta’awuni Foundation, Engineer Muhammad Lawal Mai Doki, represented by Dr. Aliyu Dahiru, stressed the need for the State Government to empower its Zakkat and Waqaf Board, with sufficient funding and involvement of young persons.
The Emirs of Katsina, represented by the Yandakan Katsina, Alh. Sada Mohammed Sada, and that of Daura, represented by Shiekh Nazir Kofar Baru, also presented donations from their respective Emirates.
