PRESIDENTIAL REPORT ON THE 5TH NATIONAL GENERAL MEETING OF AL-HAYAT RELIEF FOUNDATION HELD ON SUNDAY 22ND OF JULY 2018, AT THE AL-HAYAT NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, NO 33, OLD LAGOS/BENIN ROAD, OBALENDE, IJEBU-ODE, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.
PRESENTED BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ALHAJI A.Y.O. OLADUNJOYE
OPENING: I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan the accursed. In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. We give thanks to Almighty Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness from our souls, evils and wrong doings. He who Allah guides no one can misguide him and he whom He leads astray no one can guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah without any partner and that the Prophet Muhammad was His servant and Messenger. May His endless blessings be showered on our noble Prophet, his households, his companions, and us that follow his footsteps till the day of eternity.
PROTOCOL
There is no way I can start this report without remembering the immediate past president, Dr. Abdul Razaq Idowu Adepoju who died on the 1st of April, 2018. May his soul rest in peace. Please join me in reciting Suratul Ikhlas three times for him and other members of Al-Hayat Relief Foundation who had passed on.
There is too much to say about the Ex-President. Many pages are too small to write about all his activities in this foundation; time is too short and our loss is too huge but I have to write and read this report with sorrow in my heart and also giving thanks to Almighty Allah for the life well-spent. May Almighty Allah reward him abundantly. Amin.
The Al-Hayat Relief Foundation, as at the time this out-going executive was sworn in on the 23rd of August, 2015, had only 60 branches cutting across Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Kwara States. Alhamdulillah, the foundation had grown from 60 branches to 82 branches. The membership strength has risen from 11,000 to 15,678, as two branches are awaiting inauguration – Bariga in Lagos State and Odo-Ona Elewe in Ibadan, Oyo State.
MEETINGS: The branches of the foundation meet once in a month and yearly Annual General Meetings were held at the meeting venues or in any place chosen by the individual branches. Our meetings are aimed at spiritual upliftment and mundane growth. The report at our disposal showed that the members’ attendance and participation at their meetings have been very impressive and encouraging. I am using this medium to appreciate all members and urge them to keep it up.
OUTGOING ELECTED OFFICERS: Outgoing elected officers sworn in at the last NGM who are officially leaving the office today have marvelously discharged their duties as national officers. I sincerely thank them, may Allah reward them abundantly.
- President – Late (Dr.) R. I. Adepoju
- Vice-President – Alhaji A. Y.O. Oladunjoye
- Secretary-General – Mr. Abdul Lateef Adeeko
- Treasurer – Alhaji Fatai Balogun
- Financial Secretary – Mr. Abdul Rasheed Dawodu
- Chief Internal Auditor – Mr. Jamiu Salisu
- Chief Whip – Alhaji A. G. Nurudeen
- Social/Welfare Secretary – Alhaji Ademola Shafi
- Publicity Secretary – Mr. Akindele Taiwo Waheed
- Business Manager – Alhaji. Fasasi Bakre
- Missioner – Alhaji Abdul Semiu Abdul Lateef
- Ex-Officio Member – Dr. T.A. Salako
In accordance with the Constitution (Article 9, Section 45, page 13 of 2005 edition), the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Al-Hayat Relief Foundation constituted a 7-man Shurah Committee on Sunday 17th December, 2017, headed by Alhaji A.Y.O. Oladunjoye. The committee did a thorough job and came out with the following names of members of the foundation for another three years at the National level. It is important to remind every member present here today that the names of the officers were formally read and presented to the National Executive Members on Sunday 18th March, 2018 by the late President, Dr. Adepoju R.I.
The new officers are:
- President – Dr. Asif Olatunbosun Azeez
- (i) National Vice-President – Alhaji Adesegun Ya’qub Olawale Oladunjoye
(ii) Vice-President (Lagos Zone) – Mr. Tajudeen Oladimeji
(iii) Vice-President (Ibadan Zone) – Alhaji. Isiaq Kehinde Usaefat
(iv) Vice-President (Abeokuta Zone) – Mr. Semiu O.Adesina
- Secretary-General – Alhaji Abdul Lateef Aderinoye
- Asst. Secretary-General – Mrs. Halima Abdul Ganiyu
- Treasurer – Mr. Ibrahim Toyyib
- Financial Secretary – Mr. Lawal O. Akinbola
- Chief Internal Auditor – Alhaji Fatai Balogun
- Chief Whip – Mr. Ismaeel Sopeju
- Social/Welfare Secretary – Alhaja Sarat Adedeji
- Business Manager – Mr. Balogun Musa
- Publicity Secretary – Mr. Abdul Lateef Adeeko
- Missioner – Alhaji Abdul Semiu Abdul Lateef
- Ex-Officio Member – Dr. T. A. Salako
COMMITTEES: Al-Hayat Relief Foundation usually runs committee system and it is necessary and worthy to highlight the achievements of these committees in the past three years.
BUSINESS COMMITTEE: Al-Hayat Relief Foundation being a zero interest co-operative organization solely relies on business. The business activities of all branches thrived well in the last three financial years. Members shall be given profits at their August 2018 meetings fixed for their NGM. Only few branches ran at deficit while the profit of many branches ranges between #650 to #80 per share depending on the rate of members patronage in the branch business. There is no gainsaying the fact that members’ prestige and assets continue to boost through the aid of these Halal businesses. I hereby appeal to our members to always pay back promptly to portray us as good Muslims and to make intending buyers have the opportunity of doing so as we all know that foundation does not receive any fund from any quarter.
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE (TAKAFUL) COMMITTEE: The Foundation operates a Takaful Group Life Insurance scheme which is centrally controlled and administered by the NEC. The late President, Dr. R.I. Adepoju was the Chairman who administered the scheme with other members of the committee. 31st March, 2018 marked the end of 2nd phase of another five years of the scheme. For the last five years, one hundred and twelve (112) members died of which one hundred (100) had been indemnified, the family members of the remaining twelve (12) are yet to submit the required documents. Despite the fact the sum of ₦ 3,590,000 had been paid off from the scheme of which every one of us had been rewarded for Siturah of our Muslim brothers and sisters who had passed on, yet every one of us will get back whatever contributions we have in the pull for the past years Inshah Allah come August 2018 meetings at our various branches. We are using this medium to advise members to pay their premium promptly and the branches to remit such immediately.
ZAKAT AND SADAQAT COMMITTEE: Al-Hayat Zakat and Sadaqat committee had performed wonderfully well. It was headed by the National Missioner, Alhaji Abudus-Semiu Abdul Lateef, the scheme has benefitted both members and non-members in terms of hospital bills, payment of school fees, etc. The most recent was buying of an artificial leg that cost seven hundred thousand naira for the son of our member. I must also report that for the past three years, the committee organized special Iftar-us-Saom at different zones of the foundations and this year, Ramadan Iftar-us-Saom was held in Abeokuta zone. I urge our members to respond very well to our Zakat and Sadaqat scheme promptly.
MONITORING COMMITTEE: The monitoring committee is headed by Alh. Oladunjoye, A.Y.O, the committee did a thorough job and gave comprehensive reports yearly on all branches. Many of their recommendations have been implemented to bring sanity to the operation of all branches of the foundation. On behalf of the foundation, I thank all members of the committee and I ask for Allah’s favour on them and their entire families.
AUDIT COMMITTEE: The committee is headed by the foundation’s Chief Internal Auditor in person of Mr. Salisu Jamiu. The committee yearly worked tremendously to scrutinize and audit all the accounts of the branches as well as that of National Headquarters and clearly stated our assets and liabilities. The committee organized trainings, workshops and seminars both at the National and branches levels.
FINANCE: Al-Hayat Relief Foundation is 21 years old this year with eighty two branches across; Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Kwara States of the federation. The consolidated account as at March 2018 was put at ₦ 1,413,314,419. This is a reflection of all 76 branches for the financial year ended March 2018. The National treasurer of the foundation shall give details in his reports.
SELF DEVELOPMENT SCHEME: Al- Hayat Relief Foundation operates scheme called SDS, meaning Self Development Scheme which was designed to assist members to take care of some urgent needs and also to empower the less privileged members to take care of micro business. The beneficiary purchases a form at the rate of ₦100 to apply for ₦20,000 of which is to be paid back within 10 months the exact amount collected without interest. A total sum of #12,551,000 was given out as S.D.S for the year.
INTEREST FREE LOANS: The major aim of the foundation is to give out interest free loans to members. In line with our constitution and with the spirit of Islam, our members enjoyed interest free loans amounting to ₦ 869,392,750 in the last financial year. Adding S.D.S and normal loans together our members enjoyed a total sum of ₦ 881,943,750 on interest free. We are boastful to say that the foundation has no equal in Africa in this regard.
AL- HAYAT MICROFINANCE BANK: I am happy to report that the bank is doing fine, it is the first of its kind in the State and one among very few in the country. The products were designed for halal patronage and it is the bank for all and sundry. As we all know that policies on banks were being determined by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), hence, individual members and branches should continue to boost our shares so as to continue to wax stranger.
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT: The greatest achievement of Late Dr. R. I. Adepoju and his cabinet was the dream to acquire an ultra-Modern National Secretariat. The Secretariat was acquired, furnished and commissioned on 3rd December, 2017 by the then Grand Chief Imam of Ijebu Land and Wakeelul-Muslim of Yoruba land, Late Fadeelatus Sheikh Imam Abdul Rasaq Isola Salaudeen. As from 1st of March, 2018, the National Headquarters Secretariat as well as national administrative activities was moved from 18A, Olisa Street, Ijebu-Ode to No 33, Old Lagos-Benin Road, Al-Hayat House, National Secretariat Opposite Obalende Motor Park, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. At this juncture, I appreciate every member of the foundation for your contributions towards the building of the NATIONAL Secretariat. May Allah (SW) reward us abundantly. On behalf of the entire members of the foundation, I sincerely thank all members of the building committee and the structural Engineers for the job well done.
APPRECIATION: We thank Almighty Allah for His mercies upon us; sincere appreciation goes to our legal advisers, the Spiritual Father and Patron of the foundation, the Chief Imam of Ijebu Land, Fadeelatus Sheikh Imam Muftau Gbadegesin Ayanbadejo and other spiritual fathers and mothers for their supports so far.
On behalf of the National Executive Council, I commend the efforts of all sincere and patriotic members for your understanding, maturity, encouragement and positive attitude towards the foundation for the past three years. If you had not cooperated at the National and branch levels, we would not have achieved these huge successes. I should also appreciate the NGM planning committee for the job well done. May Allah continue to give us the spirit of unity, continue lifting the banner of Al-Hayat high, grant us sound health and all good things of this world and hereafter. Amin.
ALHAJI A. Y. O. OLADUNJOYE
(National Vice President April 2015-March 2018)