Fatima Nuhu’s journey is a powerful testament to how digital literacy and technology, combined with resilience and determination, can empower women, particularly those living with disabilities, to overcome challenges and transform their businesses. At 29, despite facing significant hardships, Fatima’s use of technology and her unwavering perseverance have helped her break through economic barriers and create a brighter future for herself.
In 2023, Tech Herfrica scaled up its EquipHer4Growth program to reach women in Jiwa Community, using the cash award won from the SDG Digital Game Changers Award in the People’s Category, granted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This expansion enabled Tech Herfrica to provide over 100 women with digital and financial literacy training. Fifteen participants, including Fatima, were equipped with smartphones to help grow their businesses.
Before the training, Fatima didn’t even own a smartphone. The concept of using digital tools to trade or reach new customers was entirely foreign to her. She didn’t know that e-commerce or using WhatsApp to market products existed. Fatima, an orphan who had always had to fend for herself, was running a small sachet peanut business just to survive. Her dreams of scaling up her business seemed unreachable.
However, everything changed when she joined Tech Herfrica’s program. The training not only introduced her to the power of simple apps like WhatsApp and Facebook for business, but also taught her how to stay safe online and manage her finances. With the smartphone she received and the newfound knowledge of using WhatsApp to promote her products, Fatima transformed her peanut business. She went from selling small sachets of peanuts for 50 naira to packaging them in bottles and selling them for 200-400 naira—a leap that allowed her to reach more customers and significantly increase her profits.
“It was such a pleasure when Fatima dropped a message on Facebook to tell us that she had scaled up her business, moving from selling in sachets to bottles. We felt a sense of pride and fulfillment, especially since she was the only woman in a wheelchair during the training. It was an easy decision to give her a smartphone to help improve her livelihood,” said Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, founder of Tech Herfrica.
Fatima herself reflected on her journey: “I’m so happy. I never knew I could start selling my peanuts in bottles. But with the training and phone, I was able to use WhatsApp, and due to the many orders I was receiving, I started to sell in bottles. Things are slow now due to the economy, but I am working hard, and the business is growing gradually.”
Despite operating from a wheelchair and having no external support, Fatima’s tenacity and the digital tools provided through Tech Herfrica allowed her to reach new markets, boost her income, and establish herself as a successful entrepreneur. Though the general economic downturn in the country has slowed the rapid growth of her business, Fatima remains committed and resolute to keep moving forward. Her story underscores the transformative power of technology, especially when combined with the right skills, in helping women in underserved communities overcome barriers and build sustainable livelihoods.