By Adedapo Adesanya
Top Islamic bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, through its Charity and Development Foundation, says it has disbursed about N55.3 million to assist the poor and the needy living in six of the states of the federation.
This was disclosed by the group’s Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr Abidu Yazid, who noted that, “About N55.3 million was disbursed directly and indirectly to the poor and the needy in Lagos, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Taraba, Katsina states and the FCT.”
Mr Yazid, speaking at the official inauguration of a nursery/primary school in Katsina State on Tuesday in Katsina, added that, “Part of the money has been used to construct and equip this very block of eight classes and the facilities we are about to inaugurate.
“A lady, Hajiya Hadiza Shittu, donated the land on which the school was built.
“The school and its building came to fruition courtesy of Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation.”
“Here in Katsina, we have begun the enrolment of pupils albeit only at the pre-primary and primary school levels; we have engaged teachers and other auxiliary staff and lessons began on Monday,” he said.
Mr Yazid said the Foundation had been very careful by abiding with all known rules regulations of relevant government organisations and examination bodies in building the school.
The BoT Chairman added that the Foundation had evolved a daily lesson plan, syllabus/scheme of work, continuous assessment booklets for the nursery school section.
“In the nursery section, we shall begin with teachers’ readiness skills, writing skills, mathematics skills, science, social and health habits, cultural and creative arts.
“This is because we have a special regard for the moral habits of our pupils; we have special lessons on Qur’an, Fiqh, Arabic letters, words, rhythms and poems among other things.
“This will continue through to primary school where we intend to teach basic science and technology, three major Nigerian Languages, Islamic Religious Studies Knowledge, Arabic language, and computer studies.
“Our hope and prayer is to produce young people with qualitative education, deeply tinged with Islamic values as obtains in this part of the country,” Mr Yazid said.
“In August, Jaiz Foundation distributed equipment such as sewing machines, deep freezers and grinding machines to 534 beneficiaries,” he added.
In his remarks, the Katsina Commissioner for Education, Mr Badamasi Lawal, assured the school of government’s support whenever the need arose.
He also assured that the state government would continue with regular inspection, monitoring and supervision to make the school great.
Mr Lawal called on teachers in the school to inspire the students, saying that good teachers explain to students, while superior teachers demonstrate.
