Dr. Jibril Salaudeen, Director of Executive Education and Consulting at Nungu Business School, has called on Nigerians to prioritize entrepreneurship and investment, noting that 70 percent of wealthy individuals globally are not salaried workers. Speaking as Guest Speaker at the 2025 Zakat Disbursement Ceremony of the Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU), held at the Lekki Central Mosque on Saturday, May 24, Dr. Salaudeen encouraged Nigerians to explore business opportunities within their environment.
According to him, “We must keep looking around our environment to see where the opportunities are, and where we need to invest. For opportunities to be there, it means there are gaps. These gaps are what result in businesses.”
The event, which marked another milestone in LEMU’s annual humanitarian efforts, saw the disbursement of ₦162 million to over 400 beneficiaries across key sectors such as education, economic empowerment, healthcare, and debt relief. This year’s amount surpasses the ₦105 million disbursed in 2024, a development hailed by LEMU President, Dr. AbdulGaniy Labinjo, who reiterated that Zakat payments are welcomed from both members and non-members of the organisation.
Dr. Labinjo expressed optimism that the support would ease the burdens of the beneficiaries and help them transition to self-sufficiency. “Our expectation from the beneficiaries is that they will be happy. That a lot of them will fix their debts. Students in need will be able to pay their fees. Business owners will grow their ventures and eventually become Zakat payers,” he said.
Chairman of the LEMU Zakat Committee, Alhaji Yunus Salisu, disclosed that the committee received over 500 applications, out of which 400 were carefully selected after a thorough review process. He emphasized that LEMU is committed to using Zakat as a tool to bridge the socio-economic divide between the privileged and the less fortunate.
Meanwhile, the Chief Imam of the Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Ridwan Jamiu, cautioned beneficiaries against misusing the Zakat funds, especially with the upcoming Eid-Al-Adha celebrations. He reminded the audience that it is not compulsory to buy sacrificial animals if they lack the means. The Imam also warned against financial recklessness and the dangerous trend of seeking wealth through soothsayers or rituals, particularly among those who received business support.
Dr. Jamiu further educated the gathering on Zakat eligibility, noting that anyone who has maintained savings equivalent to 595 grams of silver, approximately ₦1,020,000, for one year is obligated to give 2.5 percent of it as Zakat.
The 2025 disbursement by LEMU reinforces its continued commitment to social welfare through structured and spiritually guided financial support, empowering more Nigerians to rise above poverty and become future contributors to the Zakat system.
