Alhaja Zeenat Abiola Kalejaiye is the founder of Al-Ghityath Lil-Muslimat Foundation and Executive Director, Zeekay Vocational Training Centre. An Islamic lecturer, whose passion for helping the underprivileged started at a very tender age, is genuinely passionate about empowering the less-privileged. This devout Muslim, who according to her, has deprived herself of many good things just to take care of the less-privileged recently hosted Senior Reporter ANTHONIA SOYINGBE in her Ikorodu office and spoke on her passion for empowering people.
Can you explain how you developed the passion for the less-privileged?
I think there shouldn’t be any special attraction for the less-privilege as much as you have blood flowing in your veins. I attended primary, secondary and Arabic school here in Ikorodu before going to study Islamic Studies at the Lagos State University. As a young girl, while in Arabic school, I was a ‘senior girl’ and that entailed learning to bring people together and showing love. I lead congregations. Back then in Arabic school, I would intuitively call my junior ones together and begin to mentor them. So, people have always gathered around me.
I started by sharing the vision with a big sister and friend, one Alhaja Khadijat Ayanwale. We started by giving N25,000 to about four indigent widows. But at the end, we realised they didn’t manage that fund wisely because we also did follow-up. Sometimes, we distributed about 20 machines for grinding pepper and others. But soon, these women would come back for money.
Don’t you think it is better if you empower them to work rather than giving out money to them?
It was as if we were doing a test-run. We finally realised the best way was to empower them with skills. I love creativity, so, I once trained at Singer School of Fashion at Mushin in Lagos, and I’ve always been a fashion freak. I decided to marry my foundation with my business. That gave birth to Zevotrac in 2010. If you ask my regular students who are not on scholarship, you’ll find that I let them pay as little as N20,000 ten times because I simply want them to pay and be committed. I pay my instructors from my own personal business money. Sometimes, we have close to 50 trainees on scholarship and they learn entirely at our expense. At the end, we still give them start-up materials. Another thing we do is a programme called Fasting Without Stress in which I give out loads of foodstuffs free of charge during Ramadan.
All these would never have been possible without the help of a number of good-spirited Nigerians who have stood solidly behind my vision. A special thank you goes to Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon; my husband, Chief Abiodun Kalejaiye, Alhaja Khadijat Ayanwale and many more.
What new are we expecting from you?
I am starting a TV programme soon and it will be called The Real Mind Builders. It’s a mentoring programme that will bring together Muslims of like-minds just for Muslim women to meet and talk to celebrities.
What gives you joy about this humanitarian work?
I have had to sell my gold jewelry to organise a free health programme when I couldn’t get sponsors three years ago. The truth is what you have in your bank account is not your money. What’s yours is what you actually give out.
Some people have the notion that a Muslim woman should not be seen or heard, but the reverse is the case for you as you also encourage Muslim women to work. Are you not contradicting your belief?
Our prophet places high importance on women. The greatest Muslim scholar in the Holy Quran is a woman and her name is Aisha. She was like a professor because she was instrumental in writing lots of Hadiths. The Prophet encouraged her and there were lots of women who went to the battlefield with her. Women are never to be silenced, but because of the culture and people mix religion with lots of things. I understand my religion and I know there is no barrier or a glass ceiling on how far a woman can go in her career. If I were in-door, all these are happy because they have access to free training wouldn’t be. I’m invited at different times as resource person to society and state events and that’s happening because I embraced exposure. Moderation is key in everything you do in life.
Some of the abducted Chibok girls are still in the Boko Haram’s den, what are your thoughts about this since the abductors are hiding under Islam?
It is so painful when people misrepresent Islam. These people can’t be talking for us because they have their own agenda, which is devilish, and all we can all do is to come together to pray and fight them. Government should also tell us because it appears they know more than they are giving out.
What keeps you going in life?
God and passion for what I do. I live everyday as it comes and I don’t really bother myself about challenges. I think but I don’t bother myself about anything.
Before you commenced this organisation, what were you doing?
I’ve been a businesswoman and an Islamic lecturer. In the course of my work, I’m able to network with people of great minds. So, I decided to use the opportunity to float a foundation as a response to people coming to me for financial aid, unendingly.
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