By Gafar Alabi,

When people speak about cooperative societies, the idea that often comes to mind is simple: a group of individuals pooling resources to support one another financially. At their core, cooperative societies are voluntary associations formed to help members meet shared economic, social, or financial needs through a jointly owned and democratically managed structure. Members contribute funds through regular savings, which are then used to provide loans, financial assistance, or other forms of support that improve the well-being of the group.

The primary objective of such societies is to promote mutual support, economic empowerment, and shared prosperity among members. Unlike profit-driven enterprises, cooperative societies focus on the welfare of their members, promoting principles such as cooperation, transparency, equality, and collective responsibility. Members typically enjoy equal voting rights in decision-making, regardless of their financial contributions.

Across many communities, cooperative societies play a vital role in helping members access credit, support small businesses, manage savings, and improve their standard of living through collective effort. However, the Al-Hayat Relief Foundation, headquartered in Ijebu-Ode with branches across several parts of Nigeria, goes beyond the traditional cooperative structure.

The foundation provides loans to members based on their financial capacity without charging interest, unlike many conventional cooperatives that offer loan facilities with interest calculated as a percentage. Founded in 1997 by just six members, the organisation has evolved into a vibrant humanitarian and community development platform. While many cooperatives focus primarily on financial activities such as savings and loans, Al-Hayat combines economic empowerment with social responsibility and humanitarian service.

As a humanitarian platform, the foundation, headed by its President, Engr. Sikrullah Omotayo Adeko, supports vulnerable members of society, including widows, orphans, and the less privileged. Through various relief interventions, it provides assistance to individuals facing economic hardship, health challenges, or emergency situations. These efforts reflect the organisation’s commitment to compassion, solidarity, and the welfare of humanity.

In addition, the foundation contributes to community development by promoting unity, cooperation, and collective progress. It encourages members to support one another not only financially but also morally and socially. By fostering a spirit of brotherhood and shared responsibility, the organisation strengthens community bonds and promotes sustainable development. The foundation also promotes educational advancement and youth empowerment through mentorship and moral guidance, recognising that education and character development are essential for societal growth.

Today, the organisation operates 124 branches across several states, including Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Kwara, and parts of the North-Central region, with more than 25,000 members across its operational zones. Its activities are coordinated through five operational zones: Ijebu Zone, Abeokuta Zone, Lagos Zone, Ibadan Zone, and Ilorin Zone.

The foundation operates in accordance with Islamic principles. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah says: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and give up what remains of interest, if you are indeed believers.” (Qur’an 2:278). This verse emphasises that while profit through legitimate trade is permissible, charging interest on loans is prohibited. This principle underpins the foundation’s operations, which are rooted in Islamic values of charity, compassion, and social responsibility. The schemes of the foundation include development levy, shares, savings, Takaful(insurance), Ileya savings, retirement savings, Hajj and Umrah savings, target savings, children’s savings, and building project contributions, among others. Its loan facility is also structured to ensure convenient repayment for members, with beneficiaries often given up to 30 months to repay their loans without undue pressure.

Through these initiatives, many members have strengthened their financial capacity, while numerous small and medium-scale businesses have benefited from the support provided by the foundation. Beyond financial services, the foundation remains committed to humanitarian and welfare interventions. It regularly provides assistance to people in need, particularly during emergencies, through initiatives such as Al-Hayat Zakat, Sodaqah, and  Waqf Foundation, which support members facing health challenges or financial hardship. The Foundation play significant roles within Al-Hayat Relief Foundation in supporting humanitarian work, social welfare, and community development in line with Islamic principles.

Zakat is an obligatory charitable contribution in Islam, and within Al-Hayat Relief Foundation it serves as a structured welfare mechanism. Through this scheme, the foundation provides financial assistance to members and vulnerable individuals facing economic hardship. It also supports widows, orphans, and the less privileged within the community. In addition, Zakat is used to assist members experiencing serious health challenges or other emergency situations. By redistributing wealth to those in need, the initiative promotes social justice while strengthening solidarity, compassion, and mutual support among members of the foundation.

Sadaqah, on the other hand, refers to voluntary charity given to support others beyond the obligatory Zakat. It plays an important role in providing immediate relief for individuals facing sudden financial or social difficulties. The scheme also supports humanitarian activities such as feeding programmes, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. Through Sadaqah, the foundation assists community members during emergencies, disasters, or unforeseen circumstances, while also encouraging generosity and a culture of voluntary giving among members. In this way, Sadaqah complements Zakat by addressing urgent welfare needs.

Meanwhile, Waqf foundation refers to an endowment or charitable asset permanently dedicated for the benefit of society. Within Al-Hayat Relief Foundation, it supports the funding of long-term charitable and development projects. It also contributes to the establishment and maintenance of social infrastructure such as health, education, and welfare services. Through Waqf, the foundation provides sustainable financial support for humanitarian programmes, preserves charitable assets that continuously benefit the community, and strengthens its capacity to carry out social and economic empowerment initiatives.

Together, Zakat, Sadaqah, and Waqf serve as vital pillars of the humanitarian mission of Al-Hayat Relief Foundation, enabling it to support vulnerable members of society while promoting compassion, equity, and sustainable community development. These efforts distinguish the organisation from many conventional cooperative societies and have positively impacted numerous beneficiaries. Another initiative of the foundation is Hayat Trust Non-Interest Microfinance Bank Ltd, which operates on Islamic financial principles, particularly the prohibition of interest (riba). Its primary aim is to provide ethical financial services that promote economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and social welfare. The key functions of the bank include the provision of non-interest loans, financial inclusion for underserved populations, savings mobilisation, community development support, financial advisory services, and the promotion of ethical financial practices.

The foundation also provides travel-related services through Hayat Golden Travels and Tours Ltd, which facilitates both international and religious journeys. The company assists clients with travel logistics, documentation, and travel arrangements, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience. In terms of healthcare, the foundation established the Al-Hayat Medical Center, which plays an important role in providing healthcare services and promoting community well-being. Its services include medical treatment, primary healthcare, maternal and child healthcare, health screening and diagnosis, health education and awareness, emergency medical support, community health outreach, and referral services. Through these roles, the medical centre contributes significantly to improving access to quality healthcare.

Furthermore, the less privileged, especially within the Muslim community, have benefited immensely from the foundation’s charitable activities. During the holy month of Ramadan, several branches organise Iftar programmes for members and the needy. For example, the Abule-Oloni branch established a special committee to provide meals for Muslims who were unable to break their fast. To strengthen its operations and align with global best practices, the foundation has also introduced the Al-Hayat Mobile App, transitioning from paper-based operations to a digital platform. This innovation enables members to carry out transactions conveniently, while those less familiar with technology receive guidance from trained personnel.

In addition, the Vice-President of the Abeokuta Zone, Alhaji Nurudeen AbdulWaheed, has been visiting the 28 branches under his supervision, including the Abule-Oloni branch, to sensitise members on the importance and effective use of the mobile application. Indeed, the foundation has grown into a platform for collective progress where members develop economically, socially, and spiritually. It encourages mutual support, shared prosperity, and community solidarity.

As the organisation marks its 29th anniversary, it stands not merely as a cooperative society but as a movement for social welfare, economic empowerment, and community transformation. This milestone reaffirms the principles that have guided Al-Hayat for nearly three decades: trust, integrity, service, and empowerment.

Gafar Alabi,

Public Relations Officer, Al-Hayat Relief Foundation, Abule-Oloni branch, Abeokuta, Ogun State.