AND SHE MAKES A LIVING

It is often said that one can only make a living out of a business he/she enjoys doing otherwise it would just be a complete ‘waste of time and effort’ not to mention the money that would have gone into it as well. On Friday the 13^th of March 2015, at about 1pm; we (I and one of the administrative staff) took a walk down the road near the office and walked up to one Mrs. Victoria John a healthy looking woman about early fifties who roasts corn to earn a living and we got talking.

Looking at the fine array of already finely roasted corn we asked how a buyer could decipher which corn was fresh and sweet. She responded that for the fresh non-roasted ones for example, one could bite the stalk/head to know how fresh it is given the kind of after-bite taste that you get. She also went on to show us among the already roasted ones how a sweet/delicious corn would seem like by mere looking at it. 

When asked how long she has been into the business {of corn roasting} she said for the past fifteen years and has also been able to raise her children some of them who are now married and by the “grace of God” has made her a grandmother today.  Pointing towards the young lady who was assisting her she added “this one has just finished” and is awaiting her NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) call-up letter.

It was interesting to hear her say she has great patronage and even clientele of about 3years who call her up for bulk purchase of corn every now and then.  In her own words, “some of my customers sef wey don move from here or even Lagos don introduce many other people to me from their new offices wey dem transfer go and even sef, as dem dey comot; dem go tell the new people wey dey the place wey dem comot” make dem dey come buy corn from my hand.

When asked how she copes when corn is out of season she said that she delves into the sale of roasted plantain otherwise known as ‘boli’, thereby helping her stay in the market until the next corn season. She also added that the African pear season also enables her corn to be sold–out on time as it makes the corn more delicious together with coconut and thus enables her make more money at such periods.

Mrs Victoria John further said that being a full house wife is not something good because it is always nice to assist the husband with little things in the house, she said at a point her children advised her to stop the business but she refused saying that her leaving home every morning would make her remain strong and energetic for a long time.Though she made it clear that it has not been easy for her over the years but it has however been worth it, as she can now look back and give a broad smile.

On her last words to people who are not willing to sacrifice anything and just want to get to the top at the snap of their fingers or those who devise devious means to make quick cash, she said they should be willing to strive and work hard before they enjoy as they have to labour to be favored because without that they would just be wasting their time but if they can imbibe the spirit of hard-work then the sky will be their starting point.

Before we finally left her, we bought some of her well roasted corn using some of the new tips and techniques which informed our choices and of course they tasted so deliciously filling that I didn’t need to have lunch after that.