Seventy pupils and students from public primary and secondary schools in Ibadan/Ibarapa zone have benefited from “Back to School Programme” of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, ZSF, Oyo state.
The event held at Bodija, Ibadan featured distribution of School Bags, Exercise Books and Writing materials to the beneficiaries in the presence of parents and stakeholders.
Chairman on the occasion, an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan, Abdulwasi’ Ajagbe explained that the programme was to support parents and guardians in their children’s education pursuit.
Associate Professor Ajagbe, while clarifying that the learning materials were not part of government palliatives, noted that the initiative was part of intervention projects of the foundation for the benefit of Muslims and non-Muslims in the society.
In an address of welcome, the state Coordinator, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, ZSF, Oyo state, Dr Nafiu Musa stated that the foundation is a non governmental and non-profit making organization with various empowerment programmes to ensure wealth redistribution and make life more comfortable for the less privileged in the society.
Dr Musa, who called on well meaning Nigerians to collaborate the foundation, challenged the beneficiaries to be focus in their academic pursuit and highlighted some foundation’s programmes to include annual Zakat distribution, payment of WAEC and JAMB fees for indigent students and distribution of School Materials to students.
In her remarks, the female Coordinator, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, ZSF, Oyo state, Hajia Rizqat Abdulganiy urged students to always portray themselves as good ambassadors of Islam.
In a goodwill message, one of the stakeholders, a retired Director, Education and Research Institutes Audit Department, Abuja, Alhaja Sherifat Akinlabi-Raji advised the beneficiaries to see their selection as a privilege, stressing that there was no barrier in career progression for those determined to excel in life.
Alhaja Akinlabi-Raji advised parents against discrimination among children based on sex, adding that it was necessary for parents to cooperate in education sponsorship and mentorship.
Some parents of the benefitting students Mr. Abdulafeez Aderibigbe, Mrs Basirat Adepoju and Mrs Ruqoyat Hassan commended the organizer for the gesture and promised to monitor their children to make judicious use of the education materials.
Highlights of the programme was a quiz competition with presentation of cash gifts to the 3 participating groups.