Dabbagh partners Companion to distribute food, cash to Muslims
By Tajudeen Adebanjo The United Kingdom-based charity organization, Dabbagh Welfare Trust, in partnership with The Companion, an association of Muslim professionals in business and the professions in Nigeria, have distributed
By Tajudeen Adebanjo
The United Kingdom-based charity organization, Dabbagh Welfare Trust, in partnership with The Companion, an association of Muslim professionals in business and the professions in Nigeria, have distributed food items and cash to Muslim families.
The exercise, conducted under the Nigeria Food Appeal initiative, took place on Wednesday, March 18, at the Sports Centre in Agege, Lagos, directly benefiting 500 families.
The food packages included essential items such as 25 kg of rice, 10 kg of beans, 10 kg of garri, palm oil, groundnut oil, tomato paste, and dates. The support aimed to ease the burden of fasting and ensure families were well prepared to celebrate Eid with dignity.
The humanitarian programme, initiated by UK-based Imam, Sheikh Mohammed Mahmoud, began in December 2025 during the month of Rajab and continued through Shaaban into Ramadan, spanning three months of sustained outreach. During this period, about 1,500 families across Nigeria have benefited from the initiative.
Speaking at the event, the Operations Manager of The Companion Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Mallam Mustafa Shafi’i, described the exercise as the third edition of the initiative.
He explained that the partnership was conceived following discussions with Sheikh Mahmoud during his visit to Nigeria late last year, when both parties explored ways of supporting vulnerable Muslims through structured food bank interventions.
Shafi’i noted that the initiative aligns with similar food appeal programmes already being implemented by the foundation in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
He added that the first phase of the distribution was carried out in December 2025 during Rajab, after which it was extended to Shaaban and subsequently to Ramadan to sustain support for beneficiaries throughout the fasting period. Plans are also in place to continue the programme beyond Ramadan as part of a long term humanitarian effort.
According to him, the project was inspired by the belief that effective propagation of Islam is closely tied to the welfare of the people.
He explained that individuals struggling to meet basic needs are less likely to engage meaningfully with religious teachings, highlighting the importance of feeding as a foundation for spiritual outreach.
According to him, “With 100 families benefiting in the current phase and a total of 300 beneficiaries reached across the three editions, the initiative is estimated to have impacted about 1,500 individuals, assuming an average of five persons per household.”
Read Also: Nigeria, Saint Kitts & Nevis to exchange special envoys
Executive Secretary of The Companion, Dr Rafiu Alabi, expressed appreciation to Dabbagh Welfare Trust for putting smiles on the faces of needy Muslims ahead of Eid-il-Fitr celebrations.
He noted that the intervention was timely to ensure that beneficiary families had sufficient food at home to celebrate Sallah with ease and dignity. Dr Alabi added that the choice of The Companion by the sponsor underscores the organisation’s credibility and the trust it has earned over time.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and highlighted that the platform continues to enable the group to contribute meaningfully to the growth and welfare of Islam both in Nigeria and globally.
Beneficiaries, both male and female, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the organisers for the timely support. Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Soyeye Aminah, a beneficiary from Oshodi, said: “We received different types of food to help us prepare for sallah, and we also received transport fare. I am very grateful to the organisers for this opportunity and their support.
“Given the difficult economic situation in Nigeria, this initiative is very timely and appreciated. It ensures that we have something to eat during and after Eid, and it brings relief and joy to our families,” she added.
