Encounter with Kano graphics designer who fabricated tricycle

Faisal Sanusi, 27, popularly known as ‘Faisal-Art’, is a Kano-born young man residing in Daurawa quarters, Koki, Dala Local Government Area. Faisal fabricates devices and most recently caught the attention of many Nigerians when the story of his latest fabrication – a tricycle, flooded the social media space. In this encounter with Daily Trust Saturday, Sanusi narrated how he fabricated the tricycle singlehandedly in less than a year.

In a city where tricycle is the major means of transportation since the banning of commercial motorcycle in 2012, huge sums of money are believed to be expended on the importation of the tricycle majorly from India on daily basis. Sanusi therefore believes there is a need for local actors to play their parts in the sector.

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Schooled at the famous Dantata Memorial Day Primary School, Sanusi has also been an artist and graphical designer from primary school to the time he finished at the Government Secondary School (GSS) Gwale. And since he completed his secondary school education, he has been making researches at home on different devices he has fabricated over the years, which later culminated in the fabrication of the tricycle.

When asked about the fabrication of the tricycle, he told Daily Trust Saturday that he had initially wanted to create a car but due to lack of materials and other equipment, he decided to do the tricycle with the hope of putting together the car in the future. 

He also confirmed that nobody taught him anything on how to fabricate the tricycle, adding that it was solely from his creative ideas.

“Initially, I wanted to make a car but due to lack of some equipment, I decided to start with the smaller one, which is the tricycle but I will still make my own car, Insha Allah.

“Nobody taught me all these. I started by designing it on a paper, then I digitalized the design using a computer. After I got all I wanted figured out, I started the work. I created most of the equipment I used myself. In terms of welding, I bought the welding machine and taught myself how to handle it. I didn’t go to anyone to learn. I singlehandedly built the tricycle from scratch to finish without going to anyone to pay for any services. I thank Allah for the gift and talent He gave me,” he said.

He added that the whole fabrication of the tricycle was done in less than a year.

“I started the work last year. Though I did not dedicate my time 100 per cent to it, but I was able to finish it in less than a year,” he told our reporters.

“If you put the whole working hours and days together it will not make half of a calendar year.”

On how he sourced the equipment and other materials, the young engineer said he used his personal savings to buy the materials while he created other equipment himself. He said he did not receive any support or funding from anyone, parents or others, adding that it was from his earnings (as a graphic designer and artist) that he bought the materials to continue with the work.

For the assembling of the tricycle, the young manufacturer said he started with designing the machine in a piece of paper and later using his laptop in a 3D format.

He said in his passionate ambition to do things in a modern way, he perfectly ensured that all parts of the tricycle appeared on both the paper and 3D design to meet the global standards and that it made it easier for him while doing the real job.

“I told myself that all my works will be based on standards and guidelines of the global manufacturing industry. So, I decided to start by designing it on paper and in my computer. From there, I ventured into real production. 

“I started with welding and joining the ground part which will carry the whole thing, then assembled the engine and later the sitting arrangement and the body. I painted it white but added the Nigerian flag and also wrote my state for the love of my nation and the state.”

According to him, in his future designs, he will include more features for the tricycle to compete with the current foreign ones being used in Kano, and he hopes to see his products moving on the streets of Kano, conveying passengers and providing employment for the populace. 

The 27-year-old also told our reporter that he is not inspired by anyone and that his inspiration in art and design has been right from childhood.

On how much it cost him to finish the work, Sanusi roughly estimated that he spent almost N600,000 in buying the materials and some equipment.

He confirmed to Daily Trust his plan is to establish a company that can manufacture not just tricycles, but incorporate other machines like cars, motorcycles and the likes.

“Though I did not make this one for commercial purpose but I have a dream that someday I will establish a company for not only tricycles but cars, motorcycles and the likes and even aeroplanes because I have the talent to create things that I want. If I can have access to sophisticated equipment and materials, I can do things. All I pray is to get the needed support,” he said.