Forget the big shop on the main road. In Maiduguri, the real hustle is happening inside the compound, and married women are leading it.

In Borno State, stepping out to work is not always easy for married women. Household duties, security concerns from years of insurgency and the rising cost of living mean many need to earn without leaving home.

Research on Borno shows 69.1 percent of women in small businesses operate from markets and roadsides, and a majority earn below N5,000 a week. Another report found that in Borno, only 5,399 women benefited from the Central Bank Entrepreneurship Development Programme between 2020 and 2022, just 0.37 percent of self-employed women in the state.

Historically, Maiduguri women have always traded in street food and household essentials. After displacement and market disruptions, that trade simply moved inside. What started as survival is now strategy.

CBI News spoke to some women in Maiduguri about how they started, the challenges they face, and why they believe every woman should have something to do from home.

FATIMA ABDULRAHMAN

Zobo, Ginger Juice Seller

"I have been married for 18 years now with two kids. I have been in this business for almost eight years now. I am selling zobo, ginger juice, ice blocks, and cool water. As a married woman, what inspired me to start this business was to have something to do at home and make things by myself. First, I study the environment and the weather before I choose the business. This business really helps me a lot in terms of my family, children, and even my personal matters. And even small things that I want to do, I don't want to ask him; I just do it. The biggest challenge I faced in this business is seasonal issues, and when there is no school, it really affects my business. At first, my husband sponsored me for this business, and when things got better, I even installed solar panels to support the cool items I am selling. My advice to married women who don't have things to do at home is that they should do it even if it's a small one because it will help a lot."

LAILA ABUBAKAR ZANNA

Snacks Vendor :

"I do a lot of business, and one of my businesses is cooking and snacks. I was even given orders to do some ceremonies. What motivated me to start this business is that I grew up seeing my mother doing the business, so I adopted it, and it became a passion for me. This business really helps me a lot, and I don't usually ask for money; I do things for myself. I chose to open this business at home rather than outside because the business is not big enough, but very soon I am going to open it under the name of my brand. The business is good, but most of the people thought about the business as a sometimes not good for a female to do, which is how it looks to society. And with social media, some will order your food, but they will not pay the bills, that's affect our business. As we ladies, we need to do business no matter how small the income is."

HAUWA MUHAMMAD ABDULLAHI

Groundnut Seller

"I have been married for over five years now; I have a kid. I started doing this business by selling scents, then materials, and now I come back to selling peanuts because of my profit. For this business, I can't open a shop because selling it at home is better. This really helps me because I can't ask my husband about small things that I'm supposed to do, and I feel happy about that. The challenges I faced here are that most of the people collect my products on credit; some take time before they pay, which mostly affects my business. My advice to young women is that they need to start a business even with little income, and slowly everything will be good, In Sha Allah, because every business needs patience."

ADAMA SALIHU

Entrepreneur

"I am selling scents of different kinds, and I even have a brand name, Misha Scents. I have a passion for the business because since I was in primary school, primary four, I used to do some small businesses like milk candy and small chops to sell in my classroom, but my father doesn't like it, thinking that it will distract my studies. It really helps me in terms of doing small things that I don't have to ask my husband for, and he is the one who supports me with the funds. I really face some challenges, even though there are not many. Some people disturb us with calls even at night; that is the most challenging. Honestly, women need to start a business even at home because it's more important than doing nothing."

FATIMA ABBA

Provisions Seller

"I am married with three kids now. Business has been part of me since I was young; I am into business. And when I am married, then I think of doing the business to help my partner, because sometimes he may not be able to buy provisions. So by doing that, sometimes I help my family with one or two things, even the children. You can help. Not that I always have it, but at least you have to help, even with payments of school fees, especially in this economy. That means you help yourself; it is your family, and everything you did was worth it. I really don't have one business; it depends on the season. Like Sallah Day, I sell wrappers, shoes, and veils, but my main business is selling all types of provisions because it becomes a necessary item which you always buy and use. That's why I focus on that. I open a small shop inside my house and sell provisions of all kinds. The biggest challenge I faced is that some customers come randomly, even at night. Some disturb you even if you close the shop, and some even yell at you, but you have to endure it because of your business. Women need to have a business to avoid always asking, no matter how small the matter is."

For these women in Maiduguri, home business is more than income. It is confidence and financial freedom. The next step is scaling support, micro-grants, digital payment training and market linkages for women who already have proof of concept in their living rooms. As Borno rebuilds its economy as a regional hub, these compound shops deserve to be counted.

#MaiduguriHustle #WomenInBusinessNG #BornoWomen #HomeBusiness #MarriedWomenAtWork #SideHustle

Nigeria #CbinewsTV #FinancialFreedom