Beyond the yearly feeding of less privileged and vulnerable people in the society, the 2026 Ramadan feeding programme is emerging an economic lifeline with avalanche of jobs opportunities for teeming youths who took advantage of the value chain to earn temporary means of livelihood.

The programme has directly employed hundreds of residents, particularly women and youths, for cooking, packaging, and distribution. Some workers have earned between ₦100,000 and ₦200,000 for the Ramadan period, directly increasing household income.

In the area of local economy, massive demand for ingredients such as rice, onions, and tomatoes as well as livestock, benefits local farmers, market traders, and food suppliers in Kano. Besides, the initiative is managed by local contractors, empowering them with large-scale contracts and boosting their operational capacity.

By providing free daily Iftar meals, the initiative relieves the financial burden on vulnerable families, allowing them to redirect their limited funds to other essential needs.

Addressing journalists during an inspection on some of of the cooking centers, the Chairman of the State Ramadan Feeding Committee and Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Ahmed Tijjani Auwal, said the 2026 program designed 115 feeding centres across the 44 local government areas of the state.

According to him, many young people working in kitchens and distribution centres are earning wages that enable them to support their families and participate more actively in economic activities, particularly as the Eid celebration approaches.

“The programme has created jobs for many youths. When they earn money, they go to the markets to buy goods such as food items and clothing, which helps stimulate the local economy,” Auwal said.

He explained that the large-scale procurement of food items such as rice, onions, tomatoes and livestock by contractors has significantly increased demand in Kano markets, benefiting traders, transporters and suppliers.

The commissioner noted that the circulation of money generated by the programme could also help government recover part of the funds invested through taxes and broader economic activity.

Beyond its economic impact, Auwal said the initiative promotes social cohesion by bringing together people from different political and social backgrounds.

“When people gather to receive food during Ramadan, they forget political differences. It strengthens unity and shows that the government cares about the welfare of its citizens,” he said.

Meanwhile, the State Government has intensified monitoring of the feeding centres to ensure that meals distributed to beneficiaries meet required quality and hygiene standards and are not diverted.

Auwal said the monitoring exercise followed a directive by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for continuous oversight of the programme throughout the fasting period.

He said, he had been visiting centres across Local Government areas to assess the quantity and quality of food as well as hygiene conditions under which the meals are prepared.

During a visit to the Al-Lateef preparation facility, the monitoring team inspected both the cooking and packaging stages of the operation, describing the environment as clean and well organised.

“The packaging stage is very critical because it is the last point where the food is handled before it gets to the beneficiaries. We are satisfied with the hygiene level here,” Auwal said.

He added that the governor’s keen interest in monitoring the food preparation process was inspired by his experience during a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he personally inspected kitchens preparing meals for pilgrims.

One of the contractors participating in the programme, Hajara Abdullahi, Chief Executive Officer of Alateef restaurant supplying meals under the initiative, said her company distributes about 13,000 plates of food daily across 13 centres.

She revealed that the operation has created employment for about 250 workers, many of them women.
“Some of the workers earn about ₦200,000, while others receive ₦100,000 for the Ramadan period,” she said.
Abdullahi added that her company cooks about 300 bags of food items and slaughters three cows daily to meet demand, while ensuring the meals remain hygienic and nutritious.

According to her, the programme has triggered a chain of economic activities benefiting food suppliers, livestock traders, transporters and other service providers.

Also speaking during the inspection, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Amina HOD, commended the hygiene and packaging standards at the facility, noting that the programme is not only feeding residents but also empowering women economically.

Officials said five major companies currently handle most of the food production under the Ramadan feeding programme, delivering tens of thousands of meal packs daily across Kano, while smaller caterers support operations at selected centres.

They added that the committee will continue strict monitoring to ensure the meals reach intended beneficiaries and maintain the expected quality throughout the Ramadan period.