Ibadan Roasted Corn Seller Says She Earns Up to ₦750,000 Monthly, Sponsoring Two Children in Higher Institutions

A roadside roasted corn seller in Ibadan, Lateef Rukayat, has shared how her small business has transformed her family's fortunes, revealing that she now earns up to ₦750,000 monthly and has been able to sponsor two of her six children through higher education.

Speaking during an interview with Tribune On The Street, Rukayat explained that she abandoned her profession as a hairdresser after the business struggled to generate enough income to support her household.

“Hairdresser is my hard-earned work; it’s my early dream work, and I did freedom after completion. I started roasting corn when my hairdressing business was not moving. All my children are in school, with two of them in higher institutions,” she said.

Rukayat disclosed that she ventured into the roasted corn business in January 2021, using funds borrowed through a local lending scheme known as "Network." Although the loan attracted interest, she said it enabled her to purchase her first bag of corn and begin trading.

According to her, the business initially yielded encouraging returns.

“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. From the earnings, I contribute and that's what I collect in supporting my children's schooling,” she explained.

Despite her success, the entrepreneur noted that operating a roasted corn business has become increasingly challenging due to inflation and rising operating costs. She dismissed the widespread belief that the trade requires minimal capital, explaining that expenses such as transportation, charcoal, and packaging materials have significantly increased.

She recalled that while the price of a bag of corn has fluctuated over the years, the cost of running the business remains high, making it difficult for new entrants to establish themselves.

Rukayat also highlighted one of the biggest challenges facing roasted corn sellers: the product's short shelf life. She explained that roasted corn must be sold fresh because leftovers quickly lose their taste and appeal, often resulting in losses.

She recounted a period when she was forced to increase the selling price of a cob of corn from ₦200 to ₦400 due to soaring costs, only to experience a sharp decline in customer patronage that wiped out her profits.

The businesswoman said she has never benefited from any government grant or financial assistance. She appealed to authorities to introduce measures that would ease the cost of doing business, including lowering the prices of essential commodities and providing financial support for small-scale traders.

Rukayat expressed hope that with improved economic conditions and greater support for micro-enterprises, more Nigerians would be able to build sustainable livelihoods and provide quality education for their children through small businesses.