Puskas BAZNAS director, Irfan Syauqi Beik and Sokoto Zakat and Awqaf Commission Chairman, Muhammad Lawal Maidoki met in Makkah on Sunday (01-22). The two chiefs, who were at Umra journey, met to discuss the follow up agenda from Maidoki's visit and study tour to BAZNAS last week. Maidoki stated that from his study tour, he had highlighted areas that would be developed by his institution.

Maidoki indicated his interest to implement ZCD (Zakat Community Development) program. He said that he would prepare a team dedicated for this program. He was also very interested in health program as health care access was still an issue faced by his country. He would request BAZNAS to provide technical assistance, either by sending an instructor to Sokoto or from Sokoto state, a team would be sent to BAZNAS. Chief Maidoki also said that his institution would seriously consider to adopt national zakat index developed by Puskas BAZNAS to improve the quality of zakat management in his country.

As response to those requests, Irfan Syauqi Beik said that in principle, BAZNAS would be more than happy to help all Muslim countries subject to its capacity and capability. He said that it would be better if the two institutions could formalize an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) that would benefit the two countries and legally binding. Irfan also extended his wish to visit to Sokoto State of Nigeria in the near future. Hopefully this visit would strengthen zakat and awqaf cooperation between two countries. (puskasbaznas.com)