From housewife to household support
When financial hardship threatened her family’s stability, 22-year-old Rukayya refused to stand by. Determined to improve her household’s situation, she enrolled in a skills training program that would change her life. Today, Rukayya runs a small business in Gwadabawa, Nigeria, contributing to her family’s income for the first time and gaining newfound confidence as a young entrepreneur.
Northwest Nigeria faces a severe, multi-faceted security crisis. Rampant banditry, kidnappings, and violent raids have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, disrupted education, and threatened food security in states including Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto. In this challenging environment, Rukayya’s story stands as a beacon of resilience, determination, and empowerment.
Challenges at home
Rukayya lives in Tudun Doki, a rural area in Tudun Doki, Shiyar Sarkin Fawa in the Gwadabawa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with her husband and four children. As a full-time housewife with no independent income, she struggled to meet her family’s basic needs, especially given her husband’s limited earnings from subsistence farming.
“Life was difficult for us”, Rukayya recalls. “My husband is a farmer, and we relied only on what he earned from farming. I had no income of my own, so supporting the family financially was very hard”.
With economic hardship compounding an already fragile rural community, Rukayya felt the pressure to find a solution.
When determination meets opportunity
Decided to improve her family’s wellbeing, Rukayya sought opportunities to learn new skills. She discovered the Girls and Young Women (GYW) safe spaces supported by Plan International in Gwadabawa.
“I wanted to learn something to improve myself and help my family”, she says. “When I heard about the safe space training, I knew I had to join”.
Over 13 sessions, Rukayya gained critical social and life skills, including financial management, personal hygiene, communication, understanding gender-based violence, and starting a small business. The training included practical lessons, such as preparing moi-moi, a nutritious local delicacy that could be sold for income.
These teachings opened my eyes to opportunities I didn’t know existed
Rukayya
“I learned so many things from how to manage money, to how to relate with people, and how to start and run a small business. These teachings opened my eyes to opportunities I didn’t know existed”, she explains.
Turning knowledge into action
Motivated by the training, Rukayya began producing and selling moi-moi in her community. Her business quickly gained attention, allowing her to earn a consistent profit and contribute financially to her household for the first time.
“One of the things we learned was how to make moi-moi step-by-step”, Rukayya says. “After the training, I tried making it at home. To my surprise, people liked it, so I started selling it regularly. I soon began making a profit, which has made a big difference for my family.”
The turning point of Rukayya’s journey came when she saw the impact of her own efforts: she was not just supporting her family, she was empowered, independent, and confident in her own abilities.
“My life has changed a lot”, Rukayya reflects. “I now have my own income, can support my husband, and take better care of my children. I also feel more confident because I am contributing to the family”.
Empowered and ready for the future
I feel empowered, confident, and equipped to support my family
Rukayya
Today, Rukayya’s story reflects the transformative impact of determination combined with opportunity. With her small business thriving, she has strengthened her household’s financial stability and gained a sense of independence.
“I feel empowered, confident, and equipped to support my family”, she says.
With support from the European Union’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), Plan International is delivering a large-scale education and livelihoods programme that is expanding access to learning, skills, and economic opportunities for some of the most marginalised communities in Sokoto, Kano, and Jigawa States.
Through her own determination and participation in the safe spaces and skills training delivered under Plan International’s “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in Northwestern Nigeria” project, Rukayya was able to turn newly acquired skills into a small but growing business. The project supports girls and young women through vocational and life skills training, financial management, and protection-focused education, while also working alongside Federal and State governments to strengthen systems, promote job-creating skills, and address the structural barriers that limit girls’ and women’s access to education and livelihoods.
Rukayya’s journey demonstrates how access to training, a supportive environment, and opportunities for economic empowerment can transform lives, strengthen households, and create lasting change in communities affected by conflict and displacement.
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