The Katsina State Government is to set up a Zakkat and Waqf Commission as an agency in the state civil service.
Spokesperson of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, Kaula Mohammed, disclosed this on Sunday, adding that the commission will empower the existing Katsina Zakkat and Waqaf Board to effectively coordinate the activities of Zakkat’s disbursement, in the near future.
Governor Radda said a law for the establishment of the commission would be enacted.
The governor who was speaking at the foundation laying ceremony, added that the estate project is meant for orphans and displaced persons in the State.
He commended the Chairman of Atta’awwun Islamic foundation for initiating the project, and assured that the state and the 34 local governments would contribute N100,000,000, representing ten percent of the project’s total cost.
Governor Radda made a personal donation of N5,000,000 million to the endowment fund.
He also acknowledged the N10,000,000 donated by Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, alongside the N500,000 donated by his Chief of Staff, among others.
The governor also sought for more financial assistance from spirited Katsina personalities, for the endowment fund.
Meanwhile, the governor has commended the prudent utilisation of the donated cash raised for the project.
Chairman of Atta’awwun Foundation and initiators of the housing project, Dr. Ahmad Musa Abdullahi, said their estate 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. Abdullahi, announced that the foundation has so far generated over N200,000,000, 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 Waqf at Atta’awwun 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 Emir of Katsina, represented by the Yandakan Katsina, Alh. Sada Mohammed Sada, and that of Daura, represented by Sheikh Nazir Kofar Baru, also presented donations from their respective Emirates.
