A roadside roasted corn seller in Ibadan, Mrs. Lateef Rukayat, has shared how switching from hairdressing to the roasted corn business has significantly improved her family’s financial situation, with the venture now generating about ₦750,000 monthly.
Speaking during an interview with Tribune On The Street, Rukayat said the decision to leave her hairdressing profession came after the business slowed down and could no longer sustain her household.
From hairdressing to roasted corn business
Rukayat explained that hairdressing was her first profession and childhood dream, but she was forced to explore another source of income when it stopped being profitable.
“Hairdresser is my hard-earned work; it’s my early dream work… I started roasting corn when my hairdressing business was not moving,” she said.
She added that she started the roasted corn business in January 2021 after raising startup capital through a local lending scheme known as “Network.” The loan allowed her to buy her first bag of corn despite the high interest attached.
According to her, the new venture has helped her cater for her children’s education, with two of them currently in higher institutions.
Rising costs affecting small traders
Rukayat noted that the common belief that roasted corn selling requires little capital is misleading, as inflation has made the business more expensive to run.
She explained that aside from buying corn, traders also spend money on transportation, charcoal, and packaging materials, all of which have increased significantly.
She also said fluctuating corn prices remain a major challenge, making it difficult for traders to plan or predict profits.
Daily earnings and challenges
Rukayat shared that when business is good, an initial investment of about ₦20,000 can generate daily sales of between ₦25,000 and ₦27,000, with profits helping her support her children’s education.
“With God’s mercy, on a daily basis, if I borrowed money and got like ₦20,000 to buy corn, I used to earn about ₦25,000 to ₦27,000 daily,” she said.
However, she also admitted that the business comes with risks, as roasted corn must be sold fresh. Unsold stock quickly loses quality, leading to losses.
She recalled a period when rising costs forced her to increase prices from ₦200 to ₦400 per cob, a move that led to a drop in customers and reduced sales.
Appeal for government support
The businesswoman said she has never received any form of government grant or financial assistance and called for more support for small-scale traders.
She appealed for policies that would help reduce the cost of goods and provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs, saying such measures would help many families stay afloat amid economic challenges.
Rukayat’s story has since drawn attention online, with many praising her resilience and entrepreneurial spirit in the face of economic hardship.
