When Shema’u Musa Abdullahi opened her handcraft shop in Kano, Nigeria, the first thing she did was hang a banner — bags, shoes, and clothing for anyone who walked through her door. Within weeks, tax collectors forced her to take it down.
She didn’t know what she owed, how much, or to whom. Collectors from different local governments arrived with no identification and no official forms, demanding cash. One told her she owed 34,000 naira a month and said to close her shop when she couldn’t pay. Across Kano State, thousands of women made the same choice: stay hidden at home rather than face the demands.
Through the STATE project — supported by the International Budget Partnership and delivered by Follow Taxes, the Tax Justice Network, and the Association of Nigerian Women Business Network — Shema’u and other women sat down with government officials for the first time. The 34,000 naira that had terrified her? Her real obligation was 2,000.
What changed wasn’t just one woman’s mind — it was the system. Tax collection was harmonized so only one official from the correct local government approaches each business. A digital platform lets owners manage payments transparently. A Grievance Redress Mechanism gives women a formal channel to report problems. Today Shema’u has trained over 120 women at her cooperative and nearly 200 across Kano — and her banner is back up.
Essential viewing for policymakers, tax authorities, civil society advocates, and anyone working toward fair taxation that includes women in business. Press play and meet the women of Kano changing how tax works.