Hajiya Rakiya Hassan, popularly known as R.K. Mai Waina – “Patience is the Cure for the World”, is an 81-year-old culinary icon who has spent more than five decades selling traditional waina (rice pancakes) in Katsina city. Her food business has long served as a beloved part of the city's morning routine for generations.

Originally from Kaita Local Government Area, R.K. is a household name among those who have known Katsina over the past 50 years. Her dishes—particularly her signature waina with sauce—became the go-to breakfast for a wide spectrum of society, from royalty, politicians, and elites to the common man.

In an exclusive interview with Katsina Times, Hajiya Rakiya revealed that she recently retired from the business due to old age and deteriorating eyesight. She now lives in the Filin Fayis area of Katsina city.

She shared that food vending wasn’t her first trade. “I started by selling alkubus (steamed wheat buns), then I moved on to waina. Truly, I found success in this business,” she said. “Across Katsina and neighbouring states, people bought my food. I’ve performed the pilgrimage to Mecca six times, all thanks to this humble trade. Even though I didn’t have children of my own, I raised others’ children, got them married, and even sponsored their pilgrimages. Alhamdulillah.”

R.K. recalled her years serving notable customers including the late Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Sir Usman Nagogo, and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita. “I began with just a small cup of wheat and 40 kobo borrowed capital—and from there, God blessed me with success,” she said.

The full interview with Hajiya R.K. is available on the Katsina Times YouTube channel and other social media platforms.