Nigerians resort to thrift, community savings to celebrate yuletide

The festive season is upon us as the year draws to a close. Many Nigerians, at the start of the year, took part in thrift or contributions organised by their organisations or communities, contributing little amounts that later accumulated to tangible sums used to purchase foodstuff or other commodities to enable them celebrate the festive […]

The festive season is upon us as the year draws to a close. Many Nigerians, at the start of the year, took part in thrift or contributions organised by their organisations or communities, contributing little amounts that later accumulated to tangible sums used to purchase foodstuff or other commodities to enable them celebrate the festive season in happiness. Weekend Trust spoke to some Nigerians, who shared their experiences.

Some workers in Bayelsa State have justified why they engaged in food contribution to prepare for Christmas, saying it would make the celebration cheaper and easier for them.

They also said that they engaged in the contribution to ease the burden of needs during the yuletide.

A staff member of a fuel station in Ekeki, Yenagoa, Mrs Domo Genesis, told Weekend Trust that she contributed N10,000 monthly from March to November and expected to get a bag of 50kg rice, a big chicken, 5 litres of vegetable oil and some other cooking items for the Christmas celebration.

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Ayodele Adenaiye, a broadcast journalist based in Kano, noted that he saved money through a community savings arrangement locally known as adashe to enable him buy items to celebrate the end-of-year festivities.

Adenaiye said he collected N150,000 from his adashe savings in November because usually, prices of essential things like children’s cloths are high during festive periods.

He said he bought Christmas cloths for his children from the money he saved. He also noted that the contribution helped him make adequate preparations ahead of the festive period, adding that others may collect their money in December or January, depending on their plans and needs.

 

A housewife, Longton Ibrahim, recalled how she joined a thrift society in 2023 to save money meant to buy items for the yuletide season.

“I joined a thrift group called ‘Wise Women’ in 2023, where we contributed monthly to save money and afterwards buy things to share in the first week of December as part of preparation for Christmas.

“Most of the items we share include 10kg of flour, 6 litres of vegetable oil, margarine, sugar, milk and semovita, among other items.

“We contributed N2,00 every month, but in 2024 it was increased to N3,200, and recently, to N4,200 due to inflation trends,” she said.

Longton also said she got involved in more than one thrift group to expand her chances of getting more goods to celebrate the festive season.

“I also joined another thrift group called The Great Minds, where we contribute N50,000; at the end, a 50kg bag of rice, vegetable oil, seasoning and meat are shared to enable us enjoy Christmas,” said the housewife.

Similarly, Umar John, an indigene of Kebbi State but resident in Kano, said he was expecting to do a lot during the festive period but had no savings in any thrift association.

John simply said he was praying for ‘manna to fall from heaven’ during the period to enable him organise a feast for friends and acquaintances.

Also, Kolade Oyelore, another resident in Kano, who spoke out of frustration, said he did not join any thrift or community savings group to save up for the year-end festivities because he had a pending commitment to pay N500,000 for his daughter’s education pursuit as she just obtained admission into a university.

“I did not. Are you going to assist me in raising the N500,000 needed for my daughter’s admission. I won’t be saving any money when I have a pressing need to pay for registration. Of course, I will be travelling to Ibadan for the Christmas and New Year festivities, but what is on my mind now is to settle the registration fees of my daughter. Thank you,” Oyelore said.

Steven Nwafor, an accountant resident in Kano, said he would love to join contribution groups, not necessarily for the end of the year festivities but to enable him buy foodstuff.

“I don’t do contribution for Christmas or end of the year festivities. If I got involved in any contribution, it would be for buying foodstuff,” Nwafor said.

In Minna, Niger State, there are similar scenarios of various groups of people joining thrift and savings groups in their local environments, just to save up for the end-of-year festivity.

Charity Hosea, an entrepreneur, told Weekend Trust that she had been saving from her business specifically for Christmas and New Year celebrations, as well as other needs.

“Even with the difficulties in the country, we are still trying to make something happen meaningfully during festive seasons because we need to celebrate, no matter how hard the country has become.

“I am managing my business, trying to gather money through community savings to enable me celebrate well. I do daily contribution at the close of business. I calculate my profit and save part of it for these special days and other things. I have been doing this contribution since October in preparation for the Christmas and New Year celebrations because Christmas is not a festival you can just raise money at once to celebrate. All my contributions from October will go for Christmas and New Year celebrations. The little one I have gathered so far can ease my celebrations,” she said.

Another resident, Aideloje Ojo, told Weekend Trust that he had been saving through contributions with his colleagues since January to ease the burden of the festive season.

“During Christmas, I normally buy goat, yam, rice and local chicken. The contribution does not give me all I want to buy for the festive period, but it will go a long way to support.

“I joined a contribution group with colleagues since January. Eleven of us have been contributing N15, 000 every month. I chose to be the last to receive because my target is to meet festive needs and demands,” Ojo said.

He noted that during seasons like this, such contributions would save him because his salary is not enough, adding that aside his immediate family, he extends good gestures to his extended family. “If I depend on my salary alone, it cannot help me,” he said.

 

Similarly, Ruth Gana, a journalist, told our correspondent that they came together in her organisation to contribute to enable them buy foodstuff and other necessities for the festive season.

She said, “At the beginning of this year, my colleagues suggested that we contribute towards the end of the year to enable us go to the market to get some foodstuffs and condiments. However, the contribution is not just for Christians as there are also Muslims amongst us.

“Planning makes things easier because it is not easy for one to gather N100,000 at once in today’s reality. With this contribution, this year’s Christmas celebration will be a bit less stressful for me because I already have some things I need on ground. I don’t need to bother anymore, even when my salary comes.”

Also, workers across various establishments in Benue State are engaging in thrift saving schemes to cushion the financial burden associated with end-of-year festivities.

The contributions, which run throughout the year, are designed to help workers meet increased household expenses during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

A federal government worker, Dorathy Sabo, explained that the contribution cycle usually began in December and ended in November of the following year.

According to her, members contribute a minimum of N10,000 monthly in the group she belongs, making them save a total of N120,000 at the end of the year.

“At the end of the contribution period, the money is used to purchase food items, such as rice and other cooking condiments, which are shared among members,” she said.

She added that the thrift system had helped many workers plan better for the festive season and reduce financial pressure associated with yuletide spending.

“Like the one we just shared about a week ago, I got a bag of rice, 4 litres of vegetable oil, tomatoes, onions and other seasoning, as well as a carton of noodles,” Sabo explained.

Veronica Adeyi, a worker in a private company, also got N450,000 from her thrift group, which she used for the purchase of a gas cooker and washing machine.

“This saving habit has really helped me to acquire items that make household chores easier for me, especially in this season when children are at home and we receive lots of visitors,” Adeyi said.

For Lilian Stephen, a state government worker, belonging to two or more thrift groups remains the way to prioritise her savings and spending habit.

“I belong to two of such groups in my office; and I do another outside the office. The later gives me cow meat. We are organised in the group of over 40 people. During the closing year, many cows will be bought and each shared among four members who have contributed at least N100,000.

“If there were remnants, they would buy Maggi or palm oil and share among all members. But the former will distribute what each person has saved and the excess money generated from interest paid by those who borrowed money will be used to buy chicken to share among members,” she added.

 

From Bassey Willie, Yenagoa, Ahmad Datti, Kano & Abubakar Akote, Minna & Hope Abah, Makurdi