Nigeria Must Rethink Charity As Global Funding Declines — Al-Habibiyyah

The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has renewed its call for faith-based and charitable organisations across Nigeria to establish a coordinated, self-sustaining framework for charity in order to better support the poor and vulnerable in society. The organisation also expressed concern over what it described as a decline in global philanthropic funding, urging stronger synergy among stakeholders […]

The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has renewed its call for faith-based and charitable organisations across Nigeria to establish a coordinated, self-sustaining framework for charity in order to better support the poor and vulnerable in society.

The organisation also expressed concern over what it described as a decline in global philanthropic funding, urging stronger synergy among stakeholders to address poverty in Nigeria more effectively.

Speaking at a two-day interfaith “train-the-trainers” workshop for religious leaders from the country’s two major faith traditions, themed “Building Communities Through Sustainable Faith-Based Giving,” and held in Ibadan, Oyo State, the National Chief Imam of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, stressed the importance of collaboration between religious bodies and relevant government agencies in identifying and supporting vulnerable groups.

According to him, with global donor funding for philanthropy shrinking, faith-based organisations must “look inward, reflect, and share resources” to sustain humanitarian and developmental interventions.

The event, sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation, brought together Christian and Muslim leaders, with participants drawn from Osun, Kwara, and Oyo states, to reflect on religious teachings on giving and to develop sustainable structures for community support.

In a lecture delivered by Prof. Dayo Akintayo, former Provost of the College of Management and Social Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, he affirmed the biblical foundation for stewardship, describing it as the responsible management of resources for the common good rather than selfish gain.

Speaking on the topic, “Harnessing Resources for Community, Aligning with God’s Purpose,” and referencing Matthew 22:39 and Galatians 6:10, Prof. Akintayo noted that Christian stewardship goes beyond giving to include responsible resource management for sustainable impact.

“In Genesis 2:15, humanity is placed in the garden ‘to work it and take care of it.’ This implies preservation, accountability, and sustainability—principles that align strongly with modern development goals and philanthropic ideals,” he said.

He added that within an interfaith context, Christian stewardship finds a strong parallel in Islamic principles such as Zakat and Waqf, which also emphasise structured giving and community welfare.

Akintayo maintained that both traditions share core values of compassion, justice, accountability, and service to humanity, which provide a strong foundation for collaboration.

He further observed that interfaith cooperation would help “build systems that last long and outlive individual efforts,” ultimately contributing to national development and social transformation.

He commended the organisers of the initiative and urged participants to see the programme not merely as training, but as “a calling to serve humanity.”

In another lecture titled “Understanding Waqf for Sustainable Foundation,” Prof. Hafis Oladosu of the Department of Arabic Studies, University of Ibadan, explained the Islamic concept of Waqf as the permanent dedication of property or assets by an individual for the sake of Allah.

He noted that such property is taken out of personal ownership, with its benefits continually directed towards charitable or socially beneficial purposes.

The lecture, delivered on his behalf by Dr Yakub Olawale of the Department of Foreign Languages, Osun State University, encouraged wealthy individuals to embrace philanthropic Waqf as a means of directing resources towards education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and broader community development.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Dr Kola Adeyemi, said the programme was designed to educate wealthy individuals on how to utilise their resources for the benefit of humanity, even after death.

The Consultant on the Faith and Philanthropy Project of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Adekunle Luqman Adefolahan, emphasised the importance of structured, impactful, and sustainable giving.

He called for stronger partnerships between NGOs and government agencies to accurately identify and reach vulnerable populations.

Adefolahan also urged private sector organisations to take corporate social responsibility more seriously in the collective fight against poverty.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr Elisha Ogundiya, described the programme as an eye-opener with significant benefits for humanity.

He encouraged participants from both faiths to educate affluent members of their congregations on the importance of channelling wealth into life-transforming initiatives through foundations such as the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society.

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