The Ramadan Economy: A Season of Charity and Commerce
As the sun sets and the call to prayer echoes across neighborhoods, thousands of fasting Muslims gather around modest meals to break their fast. For many, these meals are not just a personal act of devotion but also a significant economic opportunity for small-scale food vendors and petty traders. This unique intersection of charity and commerce has transformed the holy month of Ramadan into a seasonal economic lifeline for many in Nigeria.
A Growing Economic Opportunity
In communities across Kano and other parts of the country, what began as an act of charity has evolved into a vital economic activity. Philanthropists sponsor the mass production and distribution of traditional foods like akara, kunu, and akamu, which not only feed the less privileged but also provide income for local vendors. This initiative has created a temporary but impactful Ramadan economy that circulates money within local communities.
For Hauwa Sani, an akara seller in Dorayi, Kano State, Ramadan has become the most profitable period of the year. “Before Ramadan, I made about 5,000 pieces of akara in a day and between N8,000 and N10,000 profit if business is good,” she said. “During Ramadan, I get contracts from individuals and groups who want to distribute food for iftar. Some days I fry up to 30,000 pieces.”
Hauwa added that on days she secured a contract, she made between N25,000 and N35,000 profit, depending on the quantity of the order and the cost of ingredients. “Some philanthropists ask me to supply for 300 to 500 people daily. Others place orders for a whole week. It has really boosted my business. I even employed two people to help me during this period.”
Supporting Local Vendors
Similarly, Bashir Muhammad, a producer of kunu and akamu in Ungogo Local Government Area, noted that Ramadan contracts account for more than half of his annual profit margin. “Outside Ramadan, I supply to small shops and individuals. But during this month, I receive bulk orders from people who want to share with those fasting at mosques, roadside spots, and hospitals,” he explained.
Bashir shared that he supplied an average of 1,000 sachets of kunu and akamu daily under different sponsorship arrangements. “Each sachet goes for N150 to N200, depending on the size. On a good day, after deducting expenses, I can make up to N40,000 profit. It has helped me settle debts and even buy additional grinding machines this year.”
He emphasized that the predictable demand during Ramadan allows him to plan production more efficiently. “The good thing is that most sponsors pay upfront. That gives us working capital to buy maize, millet, and sugar in bulk,” he said.
Faith-Driven Micro-Stimulus
For many philanthropists, the primary motivation remains spiritual reward rather than commerce. Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, a businessman based in Kano, has been sponsoring Ramadan feeding for the past eight years. “This year, we are feeding about 1,200 people daily across three locations, a central mosque, a motor park, and a hospital,” he said.
According to Alhaji Musa, contracting local food vendors instead of preparing meals at home is a deliberate choice. “It is easier and more efficient. The women who sell akara and the men who prepare kunu already have experience. By giving them the contract, we are not only feeding the needy but also supporting their livelihoods,” he explained.
He estimated that his Ramadan feeding program costs between N1.5 million and N2 million for the 30 days, depending on food prices. “Yes, prices have gone up, especially cooking oil and grains. But the reward is from Allah. When you see people smiling and praying for you, it is worth it,” he said.
Community Bonds and Economic Impact
Another sponsor, Hajiya Rukayya Ibrahim, said her family pools resources annually to fund iftar distribution in their neighborhood. “We feed about 400 people daily. We share akara, pap, dates, and sometimes rice,” she said.
She noted that partnering with local vendors ensures timely delivery and quality control. “We have been working with the same akara seller for three years. She knows our standard. It has helped her expand her business during this period. She even told me she was able to pay her children’s school fees from her Ramadan proceeds,” Hajiya Rukayya said.
Economic observers describe the arrangement as a form of ‘faith-driven micro-stimulus.’ Dr. Sani Umar highlighted that when philanthropists spend millions of naira on feeding programs, the money does not disappear. “It goes to farmers who produce grains, traders who sell ingredients, transporters, and food vendors. The multiplier effect is real,” he said.
However, he cautioned that sustainability remains a challenge. “Ramadan lasts only one month. The question is how these small businesses can maintain growth after the season ends,” he added.
Preparing for the Future
Back in Dorayi, Hauwa said she saved part of her Ramadan earnings to cushion the lean months. “I know it will not always be like this, so I try to buy utensils and store some money. Last year, I used my Ramadan profit to expand my stall,” she said.
Despite the commercial gains, both vendors and sponsors insist that the spirit of the season remains intact. “Ramadan teaches sacrifice and generosity. If our charity also helps someone’s business grow, that is even better,” Alhaji Musa said.
At a roadside distribution point near the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, dozens of fasting Muslims queued quietly as volunteers handed out nylon-wrapped portions of akara and cups of kunu minutes before sunset. Among them were commercial drivers, security guards, patients’ relatives, and passersby.
For many beneficiaries, the daily meal eases the burden of rising living costs. “Sometimes I don’t have enough to cook before coming to the hospital to attend to my mother. This food helps me break my fast without worry,” said Fatima Abubakar, who received a meal pack.
As the holy month progresses, the rhythm repeats itself daily: early morning grinding of grains, sizzling oil in large frying pans, stacks of sachets lined up for delivery, and vehicles transporting food across neighborhoods.
What emerges is a delicate balance between charity and commerce, a system where spiritual devotion intersects with economic opportunity.
In the end, Ramadan’s generosity appears to ripple far beyond the immediate recipients. It sustains petty traders, injects liquidity into local markets, and reinforces communal bonds.
For vendors like Bashir, the season represents hope. “If every month was like Ramadan, small businesses would grow faster. But even this one month makes a big difference,” he noted.
As communities continue to break their fast together, one thing is clear: In the holy month, charity does not only fill empty stomachs but also keeps the wheels of small enterprises turning.
