Ghana Islamic Microfinance supports education

The Ghana Islamic Microfinance (GIMF) has donated books and other educational materials to the Shiekh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund (SONSETFUND) for onward distribution to schools in the Muslim communities.

The donation by the asset based Islamic Microfinance project which was estimated at GHC 100,000 include computers and accessories, school canvas and other educational materials.

Mr Kwaku Kyei, Board Chairman of GIMF said the donation forms part of its educational project dubbed the Hajiah Fatima Abubeker Educational Support Project, with a fund of 1 million Ghana Cedis to support education in the Muslim communities till the year 2020.

He said the late Hajiah Fatima Abubeker whose vision, commitment and unflinching generous support led to the growth of the GIMF was a devoted Muslim who until her passage in July this year requested for something to be done as a legacy in her name in Islam, hence the establishment of the educational support project.

He explained that the project would support education in Muslim communities in Ghana every year by donating educational materials such as computers, books, school uniforms, sandals and other educational supplies to needy students through the heads of the major Islamic sects.

Mr Kyei expressed the hope that the donated items would be given the targeted students to help fulfill the aims and objective of the project.

He commended Dr Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam for setting up the SONSETFUND, saying it would help promote education in the Muslim communities.

He said the GIMF would continue to fight against predatory loan practices through innovative ethical microfinance service which is unprecedented in Ghana’s history.

“Our business model is partnership with the poor and profit and loss sharing as our investment methodology. This means we do not charge interest on our asset based loans,” he added.

Alhaji Khuzaima Osman, Executive Secretary of SONSETFUND commended management of GIMF for the donation.

He said there are large number of Muslim students who could not attend school because of lack of educational materials and the donated items would help cater for such needs.

He assured that the donated items would be distributed to the needy Muslim students and would be shared among schools of the various Islamic sects.

He said SONSETFUND would from the next academic year provide a three year Senior High School Scholarship to 10 needy but brilliant Muslim students.

He said the Fund is also helping to guarantee for tertiary Muslim students to access the Students Loan Trust Fund and urged all to apply.

Dr Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam prayed for more blessings to the activities of GIMF and urged other institutions to emulate the kind gesture.