How Ramadan feeds needy, small businesses
As the sun sets and call to prayer echoes across neighbourhoods, thousands of fasting Muslims gather around modest meals to break their fast. For many, those meals come not from their own kitchens but from the generosity of philanthropists who sponsor the mass production and distribution of food items, such as akara, kunu and akamu […]
As the sun sets and call to prayer echoes across neighbourhoods, thousands of fasting Muslims gather around modest meals to break their fast. For many, those meals come not from their own kitchens but from the generosity of philanthropists who sponsor the mass production and distribution of food items, such as akara, kunu and akamu as acts of charity during the holy month of Ramadan.
Across several communities in Kano and across various communities in the country, what began as an act of charity has quietly evolved into a seasonal economic lifeline for small-scale food vendors and petty traders. The initiative feeds not only the less privileged but also the businesses of petty traders who depend on daily sales for survival.
For Hauwa Sani, an akara seller at Dorayi,in Kano State,Ramadan has become the busiest and most profitable period of the year for her.
“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, but 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,” she told Weekend Trust.
She said 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,” she added.
Like Hauwa, a 32-year-old Bashir Muhammad, who produces kunu and akamu in Ungogo Local Government Area, said Ramadan contracts accounted 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 to those fasting at mosques, roadside spots and hospitals,” he said.
Bashir disclosed 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 said.
He added that the predictable demand during Ramadan enabled 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 explained.
For many philanthropists, however, the primary motivation remains spiritual reward rather than commerce.
Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, not real name, a businessman based in Kano, said he had 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 him, the decision to contract local food vendors instead of preparing the meals at home is deliberate.
“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 said.
He estimated that his Ramadan feeding programme cost 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.
Another sponsor, Hajiya Rukayya Ibrahim, said her family pooled resources annually to fund iftar distribution in their neighbourhood.
“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 said the arrangement created a temporary but significant Ramadan economy that circulated money within local communities.
Dr Sani Umar described the phenomenon as a form of “faith-driven micro-stimulus.”
“When philanthropists spend millions of naira on feeding programmes, 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 remained a challenge.
“Ramadan lasts only one month. The question is how these small businesses can maintain growth after the season ends,” he added.
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 neighbourhoods.
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.