By: Peter Emmanuel |
The Ummah Zakat Foundation (UZF) has launched the EasyZakat App, a digital platform designed to improve the collection and distribution of Zakat while supporting efforts to reduce poverty and assist vulnerable Nigerians.
The platform was unveiled in Abuja during the inauguration of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, an event attended by religious leaders, government officials, development partners and members of the diplomatic community.
The initiative is aimed at using Islamic social financing to support vulnerable households and improve access to healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities across Nigeria.
The EasyZakat App was unveiled on behalf of the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, by the Emir of Keffi, His Royal Highness Dr Shehu Usman Chindo Yamusa III, CON.
Delivering the Sultan’s address, the Emir described Zakat as more than an act of charity, saying it is a religious obligation and an important instrument for social justice, wealth redistribution and support for vulnerable people.
EasyZakat Brings Transparency to Zakat Giving
The Chairman of the Ummah Zakat Foundation and Emir of Argungu, His Royal Highness Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, CON, said the effectiveness of Zakat depends largely on public confidence in how contributions are collected and distributed.
He described the EasyZakat App as more than a payment platform, saying it was developed to strengthen transparency and accountability in Zakat administration.
“It is a governance, transparency and accountability platform,” Mera said.
According to him, the platform allows Muslims to calculate and pay their Zakat securely, track their contributions from payment to beneficiaries, access their donation history and retrieve records through a personalised dashboard.
He said the digital trail created by the platform would make it easier to monitor contributions and strengthen public confidence in the management of Zakat funds.
Mera added that the Foundation would support the technology with beneficiary verification, financial oversight, Shariah guidance and regular reporting to ensure that contributions are properly managed.
Zakat Targeted at Poverty, Healthcare, Livelihoods
The Foundation said its broader objective is to use Zakat, Sadaqah and Waqf to address poverty and improve the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.
Mera called on Muslims, philanthropists, financial institutions, development partners and governments to support the initiative, noting that properly managed Islamic social financing could provide opportunities for women and young people, widows, orphans and other vulnerable groups.
He said Zakat could also contribute to improving access to education and healthcare while helping vulnerable families develop sustainable livelihoods and become self-reliant.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, welcomed the initiative and urged the Foundation to work with existing government poverty alleviation and social protection programmes.
Bagudu stressed the need for the Foundation to extend its interventions beyond urban centres to rural and hard-to-reach communities where poverty remains a major concern.
Earlier, the Global Director of the D-8 Health and Social Protection Programme, Dr Ado Jimada Gana Muhammad, OON, said the Foundation was established to use Islamic financing mechanisms to improve the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
He said Nigeria could learn from countries such as Malaysia, where organised Zakat administration has been used to support poverty reduction and social protection.
Board Charged With Stronger Governance and Accountability
The inauguration of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees was another major feature of the event, with members tasked with providing strategic leadership, oversight and accountability.
The Sultan, through the Emir of Keffi, charged the Board to uphold integrity, sound governance and Shariah compliance in managing the Foundation’s activities.
The Board is chaired by the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, while its members include Dr Nihinlola Mabogunje, Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Jalo Jalingo, Honourable Mustapha Umar Kunshe, Alhaji Isiaq Ayorinde Ajibola and Mrs Umma Ayuba Musa.
Other members are Dr Jibril Abdullahi Salaudeen, Dr Ado Jimada Gana Muhammad, OON, and Professor Mahfouz A. Adedimeji, while Dr Mahmud Mustapha Zubair serves as Secretary to the Board.
The Foundation said the Board would complement the EasyZakat platform with strong governance systems, financial oversight, beneficiary verification and regular reporting.
The event concluded with the official unveiling of the EasyZakat App, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the platform would improve confidence in Zakat administration and expand the reach of Islamic social financing to vulnerable Nigerians.
The Foundation said the initiative would support broader efforts to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods while ensuring that Zakat contributions are managed transparently and reach people who are entitled to receive them.
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