A UK-based Nigerian Muslim sister, Bushra Adeola Otubu, has unveiled her numerous charity programmes to assist the underprivileged people and prisoners in Ijebu Ode. In an exclusive interview with Integrity News Nigeria Correspondent, Akeem Alao, Ms Otubu, explained how she has been instrumental in the execution of numerous community projects, distribution of cash and foodstuffs to underprivileged, widows and prisoners.

Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Ms Bushra Adeola Otubu

What organisation do you represent?

I belong to many organisations and as an individual doing marvelous things for the underprivileged people in Nigeria. I am a member of Loan4Allah, an organization which has distributed more than 1000 foodstuffs during this holy month of Ramadan.

l am also a prominent member of Our Sisters’ Happiness. This organization has spent millions of naira on different activities especially this Ramadan.

Pious Muslim Women International Organisation is another organization I belong. It is championing orphanage home in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Also, I am a member of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation Ijebu-Ode branch with its ongoing different activities. Imam Yahya Foundation, another great organization I belong started its empowerment last year with a male in Ilorin and has started moving to empower a sister in Ijebu-Ode this year.

We learnt that over N20 million has been spent to cater to the needy in this holy month of Ramadan. Was the whole money spent on Muslims only in Nigeria?

The money was spent to cater to the underprivileged people, not only the Muslims.
Parts of the project that Our Sisters Happiness (Islamic Welfare Foundation) has executed this Ramadan are installation of three boreholes, three hand-pumped wells to different communities. Forty widows have received the sum of N50, 000 naira each. We have also given out 30,000 to about eighty families. We have provided food items to feed fasting people in certain areas.

Another organisation I belong also supports some of our programmes. Take for instance, Loan4Allah has distributed over 1,000 foodstuffs to people and set up Iftar kitchen in Ikotun-Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Ilorin.

Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation is doing well in terms of regular provisions of foodstuffs to people. It supports widows, orphans. It also empowers the underprivileged to live independently. During Ramadan, we provide iftar to many masjid across Ijebu-Ode and its environment.

Apart from the packages being distributed during the month of Ramadan, could you mention other charitable programmes you do?

Yes, they are many. Distributing foodstuffs regularly to underprivileged people every month.

Besides, we have taken the empowerment programmes to prisoners. Take for instance, the NECO fees of over 50 inmates were paid for to support their educational pursuits. We facilitated the resettlement of inmates back into the society with training and jobs. We equally facilitated the fumigation of the correctional centre.

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It is also part of our programmes to feed 300 prisoners and staff at the correctional centre in Ijebu Ode. We provide meals for underprivileged people in Ilorin, Abuja, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Maiduguri and Lagos during EIDs celebration.

I also single-handedly supply exercise books to all primary 1 and 2 pupils in Muslim schools only in Ijebu-Ode and also help with medical bills of people with mental health problems in Community Psychiatric Clinic in Ijebu-Ode.

What do you hope to achieve with all these humanitarian activities?

We live to serve humanity. We are determined to reach out to the needy, especially the Muslim Ummah who need urgent assistance to survive.