The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called on Nigerians, particularly the wealthy, to use the holy month of Ramadan as a period of reflection, compassion and tangible support for the less privileged.
Gbajabiamila made the call at a Ramadan lecture he organised in collaboration with the Council of Imams and Alfas in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday. He said Ramadan goes beyond fasting and prayers, stressing the need for responsible leadership and the proper use of wealth.
Ramadan reminds us that leadership is a trust and wealth is a responsibility. We must use what God has given us to uplift those around us,” he said.
Represented by his wife, Mrs. Salamot Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff noted that sustainable governance must have direct impact on the lives of citizens, especially at the grassroots level.
“Government must not only design policies; it must ensure those policies translate into real improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” he stated.
The event featured the distribution of empowerment tools, including mini-buses, grinding machines, hair dryers, freezers, food items and cash support to selected beneficiaries in Surulere.
Gbajabiamila explained that the initiative was structured to promote long-term economic stability for beneficiaries.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Budget, Lukman Lawal, commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as impactful leadership.
Lawal attributed progress in key areas to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope initiative and called for continued support and prayers for national development.
Also speaking, the Mufti of Ilorin, Kwara State, Sulaimon Onikijipa, urged wealthy Nigerians to support the less privileged as a means of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.
He said every good deed attracts divine reward, adding, “He who pours water on the ground will step on the wetland.”
Onikijipa warned that those blessed with wealth but unwilling to assist the needy risk divine consequences. He highlighted the Islamic principle of Zakat, explaining that it was instituted as a means of eradicating poverty.
The cleric also commended Dr. Lateefat Gbajabiamila, mother of the Chief of Staff, for her role in raising her children and prayed for her continued prosperity and long life.
