‘Being ABG’s son comes with pluses, minuses’

Dr. Musa Bawa Garba is the first son of renowned business tycoon, Alhaji Bawa Garba, founder of ABG group of companies, who was the first to go into cable television business in Nigeria. In this interview, he talks about life with his father, and more. Excerpts:

Daily Trust: How would you describe your father?

Musa Bawa Garba: My father is what some people may call a self-made man because he struggled right from the early age of seven. He has worked hard and with honesty on a platform of integrity. That in a nutshell is who my father is.

DT: What attributes would you say you have inherited from him?

Garba: At the risk of self-praise, I think the key attribute is integrity. From his footsteps we have come to realize that it pays to be honest and that hard work pays. Payment here does not necessarily refer to monetary reward. It can come in the form of good health or peace of mind. There is also the drive to take risks and try new grounds.

DT: How has being his son opened doors for you?

Garba: (Laughs) It comes with its plus and minuses. On the plus side, it’s nice when you work into a place and perhaps you are looking to make a point, to sell an idea to win a project and you find out that one of the panel members or judges recognises who you are. They then refer to something he has done in business, like for example, how he bid in a trade fair. Things like this have helped significantly in opening doors because it readily confirms that you are likely to have what it takes too. So, such goodwill has had its impact on me and my siblings.

DT: ABG was a household name in Nigeria. What kind of impact has this had on you?

Garba: People have come to me and asked what has happened to ABG. Most times I explain that primarily ABG was a pioneer and as technology evolved there was room for more players. ABG is still playing its role. It got 40 channels of the cable satellite in Kaduna, Abuja and Kano. So, we are still here but now people have more choices, and just as we have become less visible, we have expanded into other businesses. Indeed, there is that pressure when people come to you for answers because you are son to Alhaji Bawa Garba.

Again, some people readily assume that you have a bottomless pocket and make demands and requests for assistance and you are expected to oblige.

DT: What do you usually talk about these days when you two are together?

Garba: Given the fact that he is advanced in age and my father, we talk about things that would not trigger any health complications. So, I let him lead the way, and sometimes it might be politics, religion, and many times business.

DT: If your father had not delved into the world of business, what profession do you think he would have excelled at?

Garba: I cannot imagine him being anywhere else. He was just born to be a business man.

DT: What is his favourite food?

Garba: I know that he loves pounded yam with vegetable soup. I also know that he eats very light in the evening. He doesn’t eat heavy food as dinner. He takes vegetables and that is because he is very conscious of his health.

DT: How does he relax?

Garba: During the weekends he does some physical exercise. I play the role of coach because I am always around at such times. He also gets some massage that helps him sleep well. I enjoy it and feel honoured that I am close enough to assist him. I am over fifty years old and would like to keep doing so for another fifty if God permits.