Sewers of school uniforms and T-shirt branders in the HIMCO School Kit industry say their business has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the business is pushing through.
Adda’u Ussaini Magaji, the Director of the industry based in Jos, Plateau State, said before the pandemic, the business had boomed.
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Magaji said he learnt the business starting with supplying school badges and uniforms from China. “A year later, I decided to visit China myself to see for myself how the school wears and other things were being produced.
“The business used to boom, particularly in the months of June, July, and August. Then, we hardly met up with the demands of our customers because many schools came for their wears.”
Magaji who produces school wears in more than 20 states of the federation said the firm could make 15,000 pairs of uniform, 14,000 pairs of sports wears and over 20,000 badges for different schools nationwide, during the new session.
“Things are not like before because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools are yet to order for their students’ wears. Even those who have deposited to get theirs earlier ahead of resumption paused because schools are closed.”
The entrepreneur is proud about using locally sourced materials to make clothes.
“Nigerians are beginning to accept more locally-made school uniforms and T-shirt branding than before.
“In those days, whatever you brought from China, for example, would be accepted without comparing it with the locally made. But today, they (customers) are able to understand that locally made school uniforms and other sports wears are stronger than the ones imported from China.”
Although his challenge is about lack of modern sewing equipment, the director hopes to get over that.
The fashion firm director said he has 20 staff, mostly young persons, on monthly pay. He has also obtained three degrees and lives comfortably from the business.
One of the staff, Jafar Abubakar, a 200 level student at the University of Jos, said, “With the reality, we are still managing to survive as certain individuals and groups patronise their products.”
Fidelia Igomu, another staff who also complained of low demands at the moment, said she uses her earnings to sustain her life and that of her family, adding however that coming to the industry has helped to perfect her sewing skills.
