How Gombe women dominate vegetable market

Women vegetable dealers in Gombe State have proven that regardless of their circumstances, women, with the right support can carve out their paths, rewrite their narratives, and excel in any venture they set out to do. In the heart of Gombe, where trade in vegetables was once dominated by men, a quiet revolution is taking […]

Women vegetable dealers in Gombe State have proven that regardless of their circumstances, women, with the right support can carve out their paths, rewrite their narratives, and excel in any venture they set out to do.

In the heart of Gombe, where trade in vegetables was once dominated by men, a quiet revolution is taking place. Faced with financial hardships and the burden of providing for their children, a growing number of women, many of them widows and divorcees, have found empowerment in a bustling vegetable market in the town.

Traditionally, selling bulk vegetables – onions, tomatoes, cabbage and carrots among others – in many parts of northern Nigeria was a male-dominated trade. But within a section of Gombe’s main market, women have carved out a space for themselves, and their numbers now surpass their male counterparts.

The Weekend Trust gathered that the women arrive at the market as early as 6am to begin the day’s transactions.

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For Hajara Adamu, popularly known as Maman Nana, the vegetable business has been life-changing. A mother of nine with a bedridden husband, she has become the sole provider for her family.

“We open at 6am and close between 10:30am and 1pm. That’s how I earn money for our daily living,” she said.

Like Hajara, many of the women are battling tough realities. Some were divorced and abandoned to fend for their children; others were widowed with no social security. And then there are the young women fighting the scourge of poverty. But they all have one thing in common: They were once financially incapacitated who are now models of strength and hope, making a living and dominating a once male-only business venture.

“We were forced to think differently and embrace this business for survival,” said Hajara. “It’s uncommon for northern Muslim women to sell vegetables in the market, but the economic hardship left us with no choice,” she explained.

“With this business, we are able to feed our children, pay their school fees, take care of our elderly parents, and manage to pay medical expenses for our sick husbands and children. I must thank God for the opportunity.”

As the leader of the women vegetable dealers, Hajara said they maintain a cordial relationship with the men in the market, adding that the men welcomed them and provided many of them with the needed support to join the business venture.  

Initially, many of these women could not afford to start the vegetable business outright. They relied on loans from male traders, collecting goods on credit and repaying daily after sales. But over time, their businesses grew, and now the tables have turned, and the men often come to buy from them when their supplies run low.

“The men in the market have been supportive. They protect us and ensure we are not intimidated by customers,” Hajara adds.

Another woman, who requested anonymity, shared how she was abandoned by her husband four years ago and left to raise two children alone. “Life was unbearable until another woman introduced me to this business. I started with no capital but was given vegetables to sell on loan. Today, I can take care of my children and even support others. This business rekindled in me a sense of purpose,” she said.

For 19-year-old Amina Haruna, the market became an escape from predatory men who sought to exploit her financial situation. Amina, who sells onions, tomatoes, cabbage and carrots, said she used the profit to take care of her parents, siblings and her personal needs. Having completed secondary school but unable to afford further education, she now attends morning Islamic school and then goes to the market for her vegetable business.

“No matter what, I’d rather continue this business than rely on people who could ruin my life and bring shame to my family,” Amina said. “Apart from feeding, I buy clothes, soap and other items required at home for myself and my siblings,” she said.

She, however, said some men continue to condemn her business choice in an attempt to exploit her situation. “No matter what, I would rather continue this business than rely on people who will destroy my life and bring shame to my family,” she said, adding, “I advise girls of my age and above to shine their eyes and find something meaningful to do that will help them solve their financial problems, so that nobody can take advantage of them.”

Similarly, 22-year-old Mabani Amina Abubakar helps her widowed mother run their stall. Initially hesitant due to societal judgment, her mother eventually took the plunge, and now their business sustains them.

“My mother, who is a widow, was doing nothing at home, and facing financial difficulty, until a friend advised her to join them at the vegetable market. Alhamdulillah, we are now earning a living from it,” she said.

“The biggest challenge is the perishable nature of vegetables,” Mabani said, adding that they have to pay for what they collect daily.”

For Balkisu Ahmed, a mother of five, divorce had forced her into an uncertain financial condition. But today, she says, she is comfortable and able to provide for herself and her children’s needs.

The leader of the vegetable dealers in the market, Alhaji Sani Waya, acknowledged that the women had faced significant emotional and financial hardships. Initially, he said, the male traders gave the women traders goods on credit, but that within a short time, many of the women secured their own capital.

“Now, it’s not just about survival. Some of these women have built houses, bought land, and even purchased tricycles,” he reveals. “The situation is very strange seeing women dominating or doing very well in a particular line of trade in this market, it has never happened before,” he added.

Many other male vegetable dealers agree that the transformation of the women dealers is undeniable. What was once a male-dominated trade is now thriving under strong women who continue to persevere, proving that determination and hard work can break long-standing barriers.

“I’m happy that these women excelled after we gave them a chance because most of them have either lost their spouses or they have been divorced and were facing financial difficulties,” Alhaji Sani Waya said.