Katsina State has distributed approximately ₦4.7 billion worth of zakat to vulnerable residents, according to Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Zakat and Waqf Board. The announcement was made during a Social Protection Technical Working Groups meeting held in Kaduna and organized by UNICEF Kano.
Established in 2017 and fully operational since 2024, the board aims to revive the Islamic social welfare system to support the poor and foster community solidarity. In its initial years, the board focused on agricultural zakat, collecting and distributing over 86,000 bags of grain valued at more than ₦4.7 billion to over 250,000 beneficiaries across Katsina.
The zakat is collected from wealthy members and redistributed directly within the same communities to those in need, following Islamic principles. Monitoring and transparency measures have been strengthened, with a 50% increase in collections in 2026, now including livestock zakat under the directive of Deputy Governor Alhaji Faruq Lawal-Jobe.
Dr. Yusuf emphasized that all transactions are fully documented to build public trust and ensure the initiative’s goal of alleviating poverty and supporting vulnerable families in Katsina State.
