Masalam Islamic Foundation (MIF), an Islamic organization founded and chaired by Justice Mustapha Akanbi (Rtd) last week commenced distribution of Ramadan Packages, including cash donation to communities, hospital patients and the less privileged in Kwara State.

The foundation on Monday commenced its visitations to various communities and establishments within the state to put smile on the faces of indigent Muslims with the presentation of food items, cash donation and sermon for the host communities.

Among the communities visited so far included Fufu, the Headquarters of Ilorin South local government; Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ogunedun Village in Moro local government, Samsudeen School of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Ilorin East local government area of the state. Receiving the food items and cash donation on behalf of the patients, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Sobi Specialist Hospital, Dr Sanni Musa thanked the founder of the foundation for always committing himself to service to God and humanity.

Dr Musa described the gesture as a step in a right direction as it would have direct positive impact on the lives of the beneficiaries. The CMD charged other well meaning Nigerians to as a matter of priority take a leaf from Justice Mustapha Akanbi's humanitarian gesture by lending hands of support to the needy in the society. He pledged that the items presented would be distributed to the sick persons in the hospital.

The Chairman of MIF ,Justice Mustapha Akanbi who was represented at the event by Coordinator of MIF, Mallam Toyin Ally said the visitation to various places during Ramadan with presentation of gifts and money and deliverance of sermon by MIF has started for almost a decade.

Justice Akanbi said his decision to embark on charity during and even beyond the period of Ramadan was borne out of the need to make life worthy of living for the less privileged, the sick people, inmates and other needy. At the Fufu, Daudu of Fufu, Alhaji Baba who received the team of Massalam Islamic foundation in his house commended Justice Akanbi for having the love of people at heart even at this age of him.

The Daudu and people of the community who gave the members of Masalam a rousing welcome, thanked the donor for voluntarily remembering them in their domain with good tiding and prayed God to reward him abundantly. Representing the founder of the MIF at Fufu, the Vice Chairman of Mustapha Akanbi Foundation (MAF), Dr Mudashir Abdulsalam said the presentation of the food items was a reflection of the fact that one does need to wear a political toga before he can contribute to the development of the society.

In his lecture at Fufu as part of activities for the visitation, the Imam of Munfa'atu Akanbi memorial Mosque, Alfa Hassan Kawu who spoke on the development of community, advised youth of the village to be in the vanguard of evolving policies and projects that will fast track development in the community. Also at Ogunedun community on Saturday in Moro local government, the Imam of Massalam Islamic Foundation, Ustaz Issa Oladimedi advised youth to always cater for their parents, seek for their mercy and blessings through exhibition of good manners at all times saying that doing good to parent was a sure ticket to paradise and vice versa.

Speaking on behalf of the founder of MIF at Ogunedun, the Coordinator of Mustapha Akanbi Foundation, Alhaji Abdulfatahi Bello thanked the people of the community for coming out in large number to welcome the visiting team and urged them to prioritize community development projects.

Alhaji Bello also enjoined youths and adults of the area to follow strictly the message of the guest lecturer that bordered on the need to be kind to their parents, warning that he who forgets his parents would be forgotten by God both here and in the hereafter.

Also yesterday, the MIF train of visitation moved to Samsudeen School of Arabic and Islamic Studies where students and staff of the school were in attendance.

The food items presented in all visited places were bags of rice, cartons of milk, sugar, beverages, fruits among others.