It takes little to help others —Wada Kachako

A Kano-based philanthropist, Wada Abdullahi Kachako, popularly known as Wada Maso Kano, is of the opinion that it takes little money or resources to better the lives of others. Kachako, who has dedicated his life to service to his immediate community, is one of Daily Trust’s Unsung Heroes for 2024.

For Wada Abdullahi Kachako, his philanthropic traits were borne out of efforts to sustain the legacy of his father. In the early 90s, soon after his retirement, Kachako began to focus actively on philanthropy. He remembers that in 1991, a friend of his, Malam Inuwa Kachako, suggested that they change the roof of their Juma’at mosque which was old.

“I said we can have an entirely new structure, bigger and more modern. It was a general consensus from a town hall meeting. People thought I was coming in to play politics but I told them I had nothing to do with politics and that it was purely for the community.”

With the successful completion of the mosque project, the philanthropist said he went into mentoring people in business and encouraged traders to register with the Kano State Tenders Board.

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Gradually, he developed interest in the education sector and established schools that have since become a non-profit venture. “We had a modern Islamiyya primary school with a combination of Islamic and modern teaching.

“We also sought the attention of the Local Education Authority to give us the best teachers. The children have become very popular and outstanding in terms of examination results,” he said.

Kachako further said they divided a vast land into portions with a section for the Almajiri Modern Tsangaya school and a skills acquisition centre.

He said the aim of the Tsangaya school was to change the old system of leaving young boys to roam the streets begging for alms and food. The plan, according to him, was to commence a pilot programme that would accommodate a sizable number of children from class one to senior class who would eventually move to the university.

“We wanted to have a boarding but unfortunately at that point, insurgency and abduction of girls was happening and so we decided to suspend the boarding.

“There were so many people willing to come in, so we started an organised Quranic teaching and modern education and we restricted ourselves to the orphans because they needed special care. They come as early as 6:30am and take their breakfast for free and go into lessons. They also take lunch and we give them books, uniforms and everything for free and provide a place for exercise.”

With a sense of satisfaction, Kachako told Daily Trust that his students are likely to graduate in the next three years after which some of them will proceed to universities and colleges to further their education.

The inspiration behind Kachako’s philanthropic activities has been his father, Alhaji Abdullahi Maso Kano, who was a merchant and philanthropist.

“My father was in Kano, Birnin Kudu, Hadejia, Mubi, and Niger Republic,” he said, adding that his late father had established many businesses and his name became a household name.

“Our house in Kachako was a rallying point and people visited our house to get first aid. Anywhere my father lived, he built a house and a mosque close to his house,” he said.

He said his father mentored many downtrodden in trading; a trait he inherited and hopes will live on after him. “It is a trait he developed in me while I was growing up and I have always tried to reflect this,” he said.

This has moved him to empower many youths after he noticed that there were many graduates in his community but with little or no skills. “I sold an idea to the community to empower them and they welcomed it. So, we advertised and many came over for the skill training.”

He said they started with 71 people out of which 11 were already skilled. The youths were engaged in barbing, electrical work, GSM repairs, carpentry and bricklaying. “For the ladies, we had makeup and things like that. We gave them training in entrepreneurship, and taught them how to manage their resources. We are now waiting for the ceremony and to make sure we accredit them.”

Even with the many efforts to empower people in his community, Wada Abdullahi Kachako believes that it takes little to help others, adding that: “Most people think you should have millions of naira before you can do it. It takes just a little. You can do it with the little you have. Share it with your neighbour, with your community people and empower somebody.

“If you are a daily earner and you earn N5000 and you can cook for five people, make it six. From there, start giving one out of the dishes daily and gradually, you can improve on it,” he advised.

The philanthropists intends to look at the health sector saying the plan is to build primary healthcare centres where they can have trained workers. He suggested that money will be put as a revolving fund for the drug and then charge very little for maintenance.

“We have decided to incorporate a trust fund to cater for all this, to manage it even after our lives with the name AMAR Waqaf Foundation. We have allocated money and properties there for life to continue in the services of human development,” he said.

Daily Trust visited Kachako Local Government Area to see the interventions of Wada Maso Kano and the level of service accorded to the people.

During the visit, the Principal of GGSS Wada Madokano Kachako, Rabi Ishaq Muhammad, said the school currently has 680 students and was set to commence admission of new students.

At the Wada Masokano skills acquisition centre, Munnir Lurwanu Kachako said the centre had trained and graduated many youths, some of who have since established independent businesses and are also training others.

Our correspondent also spoke with Abubakar Ayuba, a certified electrical engineer and Fatima Rabiu Inuwa, a body makeup artist. The two entrepreneurs have become independent after their training at the centre and are now training others.

On his part, the District Head of Kachako, Ibrahim Bashir Kachako said: “We can say nothing other than to pray for this man (Wada Kachako). He has been a grandfather, father, brother and everything to us. He has dedicated his life to serving humanity.”

“We grew up seeing him look after his people. He has always been at the forefront of helping people freely. He has been a pillar to us and you have seen what he has been doing,” he said.