Waqf and Provision of Social Services in Kaduna State: Contributions and Challenges

This study was conducted in order to determine the contributions of Awqaf to the provision of social services in Kaduna State as well as the challenges confronting the institution in the State. The study had two research objectives and two research questions. The study adopted the survey research design and the population of the study was made up of all the donors, administrators and beneficiaries of Awqaf in Kaduna State. The data were collected through a structured interview. The findings of the study revealed that the institution of Awqaf contributes to provision of social services such as schools, skills acquisition centres, medical centres, orphanage homes, libraries and cemeteries in Kaduna State. The study also revealed that the greatest challenges to Awqaf in Kaduna State are low participation and the dissolution of the Kaduna State Standing Committee on Zakat and Waqf. The study concluded that waqf is a social insurance scheme which contributes towards the provision of social services to which all well-to-do Muslims in the society are expected to contribute, in order to cater for the needy, underprivileged ones and the society at large. As a way forward, the study among others recommends that there should be increase in volume of skills acquisition centres, medical centres and libraries provided through the institution of Awqaf and the Kaduna State Government should reintroduce the Zakat and Waqf Board.