I took my father's grain business online and my uncles called me a disgrace

Last year I decided to digitise my father's grain trading network. The man spent 35 years moving millet and maize across Nigeria by phone calls and handshake deals. I told him we need an app, a WhatsApp catalogue, a delivery system. He just looked at me.

My uncles heard about it. Five of them came to my house one evening. The oldest one, Alhaji Musa, said I am bringing shame to the family. That a woman should not be putting her father's business on "that internet thing". That I will attract bad people. He said it in Hausa but the meaning was clear. I was overstepping.

I listened. I served them tea. Then I showed them the first month's numbers on my phone. We moved 40% more stock than the previous quarter. Three new buyers from Port Harcourt we never reached before. Alhaji Musa just sat there quiet. He finished his tea and said "toh, continue" and walked out. Nobody said sorry. But the next week, his son called me asking how to join the platform.