SERVING HUMANITY IS GODLY - SARKIN HAUSAWAN JIWA

By NBF News

Despite his extraordinary accomplishments and distinguished lineage, the founder of Habitat for Humanity Foundation, Alhaji Muhammed Bello Sa'idu, the Sarkin-Hausawa of Jiwa, has remained humble and unassuming, and is regarded by rich and poor alike as remarkably approachable.

Taking care to devote more than 70% of his substantial earnings to charity, he enjoins the rich in the country to always worry about the material welfare and emotional well being of the downtrodden as serving humanity is a godly calling.

'Allah entrusts people with material success in order for them to help others, and the only way wealthy Northerners could help government curb the security challenge facing the North now is to empower the less privileged in their communities through education.'

He adds that serving God includes serving humanity, uplifting the human spirit, giving succour to the downtrodden and giving them a sense of belonging in their communities, which according to him was regrettably in short supply.

In the last decade, Sa'idu, who is also the Atunluwase of Abuja, has taken philanthropy beyond the everyday norm as he has supported four (4) churches with landed property in his immediate community (Jiwa) as well as empowering several Christian and Muslim groups in Zaria, Kaduna state.

It is on record that the Sarkin who also holds the traditional title of the Madaki Hausawa of Abuja is legendry in his giving, as almost every Hausa/Fulani community in the FCT has benefited from his magnanimity and this has earned him the award of 'Helper of the Poor'.

The award was presented to him by the Arewa Journalists Forum on last Saturday at an impressive ceremony which attracted a large crowd including the Mayetti Allah Association and Kantal Hore Social Cultural Association (both Hausa/Fulani associations in Abuja).

In a brief speech, the Sardauna of Samaru, Zaria thanked the Arewa Journalists Forum for the recognition given him, while appealing to them to use their forum to educate the poor in the North of the negative effects insecurity is having on the region, promising that the award would spur him to do more for humanity.

Speaking also on the award, the Vice-Chairman of Danmunde Group of Companies, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Sambo, enjoined the wealthy to emulate Alhaji Sa'idu in giving the poor hope to live, 'the Sarkin-Arewa of Jiwa, speaks little but does much infusing everyone that comes his way with his milk of kindness and love, and always with an eye to making things better. He is arguably one of the biggest charitable leaders of today's North. But it isn't just about how much he gives; it's in the way in which he gives, joyfully, that adheres him to the people.'

A perpetual optimist, Alhaji Sa'idu, helps those he deal with to see the bright side of things. A few persons that spoke with our correspondent said that in the very few instances he couldn't give people all of what they wanted, he always made sure they left his office happy, infusing them with the same optimism by which he lives his own life.

On why he has shunned the limelight in the course of his assisting the needy, the Sarkin Hausawa said Allah's blessings on him was enough publicity and his work of charity was not for himself but a testimony of the Almighty's goodness in his life, urging other faithful to see their wealth as a means to spread Islam's message of love and peace especially at a period like the Ramadan.