Everyone always wondered why Grandma ran out of foodstuff.
Her kids would buy bags of rice, especially, thinking it'd cover for the year. It wouldn't.

She'd send for more. Even though she lived mostly with a maid, just them two.

We found out why after her death.

When Grandma (Awawu, as she liked to call herself) when she died, many women lined up to wail.

We wondered why.
She never really had a lot of friends, so why were they trooping in?

Turned out Grandma set up a rice business in her area.

She observed and notices the women around her who were dependent on and being maltreated by their husbands, she noticed divorced women, single mothers, separates wives, widows... these were her targets.

She'd then approach them with a proposal.

She'd give them some rice at a discounted amount (way lower than they could have gotten)

They'd sell and return with both capital and profit.
She'd divide the profit into three, keep one part, insist they use one part to save up for school fees or childcare, then the last part..

...the last part, the women were instructed to spend on themselves (save up for gold, usually).

She collected the capital too. They usually didn't know why.

But this was to test their commitment, because she didn't squander the capital, she saved each woman's capital.

Once there was enough money saved for each woman (accumulated capital and part profits) and she was sure they had good heads on their shoulders, she'd invite them to ask them what they thought they could do with a huge sum of money.

Some would want a bigger business, others gold

she almost always advised them to buy lands.

If they agreed to buy land, she would help them get plot(s) and then bully my uncles and aunts into sending her more money (they didn't know what for then) she'd help them build at least one bedroom on the plots.

But we only realised this when she died, when women came to cry and wonder how to go on after her death.

Some had flourishing businesses, some had sent their children to universities, some had houses, some had all three.

This is my Foundation.
This is the legacy that has been laid before me.
My namesake, my Grandma, she showed me the way.

She is the reason I love my name, she is the reason I am able to stand for things I believe in.

With all my heart, and in unexpected places, I miss her.

May Allah bless you, Nana-Hauwa.
May Allah light up your grave, and bless you with His mercy and comfort.

You have left very big shoes to fill. I will not fail you, In Sha Allah.