By Henry Obetta

The Mufti of Ilorin, Kwara State, Sheikh Sulaimon Faruk Onikijipa, on Saturday, urged wealthy individuals to support those in need to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.

Sheikh Onikijipa made the appeal during a Ramadan lecture organised by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, in collaboration with the Council of Imams and Alfas in Surulere, Lagos.
The cleric emphasised that every good deed is rewarded by God, noting that “he who pours water on the ground will step on wetland.”

He also stated that those who have resources to share with the less privileged and choose not to do so risk divine punishment, as there are rewards for sharing and consequences for withholding.

Sheikh Onikijipa explained that empowering people aims to eradicate poverty, highlighting that God introduced Zakat, or “almsgiving,” as a means to reduce poverty.

He identified the beneficiaries of Zakat to include the poor, the needy, indigent students, and others.

Oyewole Advocates Sustained Empowerment
Speaking at the 7th annual Ramadan Lecture and 4th Community Empowerment scheme for all Lagos Central Divisional District, at Abalti Barracks, Surulere, the Special Adviser on Finance and Budget to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Lukman Oyewole has stressed the need to sustain empowerment schemes and social interventions programmes aimed at improving the welfare and income capacity earning of citizens.

Oyewole, in his speech, acknowledged the ongoing reforms by the current administration. He, however, while stating the need for more reforms, urged that the President be supported to accomplish more impactful outcomes.

He said: “We have seen a lot of economic rejigging. We have seen a lot of improvement in our inflows, revenue, forex management. We have seen a lot of improvement in social protection and human capital development, but we need more.

“We must sustain coverage in social protection. We must sustain spending, and we must improve impact. And that is why for this year, we are not only doing the Ramadan lecture, we are also impacting lives by providing capital operational assets like motor vehicles, deep freezers, hairdressing machines, sewing machines, and other items, including cash support, because we know that we must enhance household income.

“We are not stopping at that. We are also embodying 50 households onto the Ilera Eko Scheme for qualitative access to healthcare for one year because once we improve healthcare, we improve household income earning, then we are good to go. So we are using this opportunity to continue to converse our love and support for Mr. President on his renewed agenda.”

He emphasised the significance of Ramadan stating that it was a time when people must love and care for one another in the community irrespective of their religion.

According to him, “The month of Ramadan is significant because of its teachings and tenets of purification, of love, extension of love to your neighbours, whether they are Muslims or not. Extension of brotherliness, sisterliness, and letting us be reminded of our duty of care to one another in our communities. And so for this year’s occasion, we have carefully chosen the topic on community empowerment.”

The Speaker’s aide urged other public servants to contribute to the improvement of social protection, coverage of social protection and increasing impact in the welfare of citizens.

Dignitaries at the event include the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency one, Mr Fuad Ladega; Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area, Mr Bamidele Yusuf, represented by his Vice, Muiz Dosumu; representatives of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oniba of Iba land, Oba Sulaimon Adeshina, mother of Chief of Staff to the President, Dr Lateefat Gbajabiamila and others.