When Amil and Nazir in Africa are eager to adopt the Baznas-IPB University Zakat Wakaf Model
IPB University through the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) responded to requests from African countries, especially West Africa, to share knowledge about zakat and waqf governance.
On April 16-28, 2025, IPB University in collaboration with the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) organized training on zakat governance and amil certification with participants from African countries. In this activity, IPB University introduced how to measure the impact of zakat with the Cibest model.
Dean of FEM IPB University, Dr Irfan Syauqi Beik said, IPB University took the initiative to organize the training and certification because it has experience from the theoretical and practical side related to the management of zakat and waqf. In addition, IPB University has a complete Islamic economic ecosystem.
Dr Irfan explained, the purpose of IPB University took the initiative to organize the training and certification so that the enormous potential of zakat and waqf can be optimized throughout the world. West Africa and Central Africa are among the regions that have not explored the potential of zakat and waqf.
“Secondly, we also want to test some theories and instruments discovered by the IPB University research team. Can they be implemented in other countries? It turns out that the Cibest model can be applied in other countries.
Dr Irfan revealed that the participants of the training and certification of amil zakat and waqf from Africa immediately practiced the knowledge they gained. This means that IPB University’s initiative in introducing good zakat and waqf governance has a tremendous impact on countries in Africa.
“It turns out that what was practiced and taught through the training on April 16-28, 2025 was immediately followed up. Some information that came to me, first Ghana, immediately followed up the Indonesian model by gathering many stakeholders. They call it the ‘Indonesian Model’, even though it is the Baznas IPB University model,” said Dr Irfan.
Likewise with participants from Nigeria. Dr Irfan said that Azawon – an association of zakat and waqf managers in Nigeria – immediately held meetings, seminars, and national consolidation meetings to follow up on the zakat and waqf management model from IPB University.
“We are very pleased and happy that what we have done can provide traces in the West African region for the development of zakat and waqf,” he said.
Dr Irfan added that his initiative was basically a realization of the institution’s vision, which is to realize IPB University as a university leader, especially for third world countries.
“Our job is to try to realize that as part of our responsibility. How do we want to be a university leader. To be a global life sustainable university, a leader especially in third world countries,” he said.
Dr Irfan hoped that the training and knowledge sharing would have a positive impact on the management of zakat and waqf in African countries. He also hoped that IPB University’s innovations could benefit the management of zakat and waqf in third world countries. (MHT) (IAAS/NRA)
