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Katsina State has distributed over N4.7 billion worth of zakat to more than 250,000 vulnerable residents, marking a significant boost in community-based social welfare and poverty support across the state.
The disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Zakat and Waqf Board, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, during a Social Protection Technical Working Groups meeting held in Kaduna. The meeting, organised by the UNICEF Kano Field Office, brought together stakeholders from Katsina, Kano, and Jigawa to improve coordination and reporting of social protection programmes.
Yusuf explained that the zakat distribution reflects a deliberate effort to revive a structured Islamic welfare system that directly supports the poor within their communities. According to him, “the initiative marks progress in reviving an Islamic social welfare system aimed at supporting the poor and fostering community solidarity.”
He noted that the board, although established in 2017, only commenced full operations in 2024, with its first year focused on awareness, mobilisation, and building operational structures across local government areas. Despite being relatively new, the board has already recorded measurable impact through its agricultural zakat programme.
“Through these committees, over 86,000 bags of grain 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 stated.
He further explained that the distribution followed the core Islamic principle of collecting zakat from the wealthy and redistributing it within the same communities to support those most in need. “The zakat was distributed directly within the communities where it was collected to reach those most in need,” he added.
Yusuf also highlighted improvements in the system, noting that the value of agricultural zakat was maintained in 2025 while monitoring mechanisms were strengthened to ensure transparency and accountability. He revealed that collections have increased significantly in 2026, with over 100,000 bags already gathered, representing about a 50 per cent rise.
In addition, the board has expanded its scope to include livestock zakat following a directive from the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Faruq Lawal-Jobe, further widening the reach of the intervention.
“All collections and distributions are documented to ensure transparency and build public trust,” Yusuf said, emphasising the board’s commitment to accountability and sustained impact.
