Dr Abubakar Yusuf says about N4.7 billion in Zakat has been realised and distributed to vulnerable residents across Katsina State.
Yusuf, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Zakat and Waqf Board, disclosed this at a two-day Social Protection Technical Working Groups meeting in Kaduna on Thursday.
The meeting, organised by UNICEF Kano Field Office, brought together stakeholders from Jigawa, Kano and Katsina to strengthen coordination and improve reporting of interventions.
According to Yusuf, the initiative marks progress in reviving an Islamic social welfare system aimed at supporting the poor and fostering community solidarity.
He noted the board was established in 2017 to revive zakat and waqf administration but only began full operations in 2024.
“The first year focused on mobilisation, sensitisation and establishing operational frameworks across local government areas,” he said.
Yusuf added that the board began recording notable achievements in its second year despite being a relatively new institution.
He said initial efforts focused on agricultural zakat, reflecting Katsina’s agrarian economy and the centrality of farming to livelihoods.
“To ensure effectiveness, district committees were created to oversee zakat collection and distribution within their communities.
“Through these committees, over 86,000 bags of grains were collected and distributed to vulnerable households across the state.
“The grains were valued at collection, totalling more than N4.7 billion, and distributed to over 250,000 beneficiaries,” Yusuf said.
He explained that distribution followed the Islamic principle of collecting zakat from the wealthy and supporting the needy within the same community.
“The zakat was distributed directly within the communities where it was collected to reach those most in need,” he said.
Yusuf said the board sustained the value of agricultural zakat in 2025 while strengthening monitoring systems to enhance transparency and accountability.
He added that collections have improved further in 2026, with over 100,000 bags already gathered, representing about a 50 per cent increase.
The executive secretary said livestock zakat was recently introduced following a directive from Deputy Governor, Alhaji Faruq Lawal-Jobe.
He noted that proceeds from livestock zakat have also been distributed to vulnerable residents across the state.
Yusuf stressed that all collections and distributions are documented to ensure transparency and build public trust.
He said the initiative aims to alleviate poverty, support vulnerable families and strengthen community welfare across Katsina State.
(NAN)
