In every ugly situation there’s always an ample opportunity for those who would dare to think outside the box.
Alhaji Abba Sheriff is one of the people displaced by Boko Haram insurgency. Unlike a lot of internally displaced persons in various camps, he makes his family comfortable through knitting of caps. Today, he is a graduate, married, and owns a house.
Though not the first time Daily Trust Saturday will be reporting on cap knitting by Borno IDPs, Alhaji Baba’s story is one from grace to grass and to grace again.
Alhaji Abba was the vice chairman of Bama Association of Cap Sellers before Boko Haram insurgents over ran his town, Bama, on September 1, 2014, in an attack that left scores maimed, abducted and killed.
Fortunately, he fled alongside family members and some friends. On getting to Maiduguri, they continued knitting caps, which was a sort of community business in Bama town.
After they fled to Maiduguri and took refuge at Mairi Government Day Secondary School, he made a decision not to stay at the IDP camp. He was determined not to wait for handouts from government and non-governmental organisation in any displaced persons’ camp.
Abba and some others went to the residence of the late Senator Khalifa Ahmed Zannah, who incidentally hails from Bama and represents Borno Central at the National Assembly, to take refuge. They, however, continued with their business of cap knitting to sustain themselves and their dependents, and to evade hunger and idleness.
Talking to with Daily Trust Saturday, Abba said, “Looking at what I achieved in the years after I escaped Boko Haram attacks in Bama town, it shows that one must think outside the box when faced with a difficult situation. Every crisis comes with an opportunity, it only depends on the perspective you see it from.”
He said Bama indigenes are known for massive production of quality caps. It has been their occupation for a long time, with the young, old, male and female being part of the business.
“When we got here and started this business, we faced a lot of challenges from existing marketers in Maiduguri. They blackmailed us. Some people said we might be Boko Haram members, but the Iate Senator helped us a lot. He gave out his house for people to live in and fed them. He was a great inspiration and role model who encouraged us when we were persecuted.
“A few of us started this business here but now we are more than a thousand. The business has helped us so much that some of us prefer it to white collar job.”
Abba said he completed his O’Level in 2012 but there was no one to sponsor him to further his education.
“Through the business, I am able to cater for my family. All my siblings knit caps to support our family finances. I enrolled in the University of Maiduguri in 2015 to study Health Education, and today I am a graduate through this business. I got married and have children, bought a car and built my own house all through this business. I never knew this could happen because we left Bama hopeless.
“Most of us that are dealers have made it through this business. We have four sections – the design, knitting, finishing and selling/dealership. The design can cost between N100 and N700 depending on how intricate it is.
“All of us here are very disciplined; we have respect for one another and there is honesty and sincerely among us. We can’t determine our gain per day; it depends on market forces. Sometimes, we make about N30,000 to N40,000 as a dealer.
“Some people go from camp to camp to buy and then come and sell to us; sometimes they make N20,000 to N30,000 daily. We have caps of various prices, from N5,000 to N35,000 depending on the quality. We also do special ones based on request.
“This business has elevated my status. As a graduate, I will not accept any job that pays me less than N200,000. So, I advice the youth to get themselves engaged in this kind of business, they should not mind the little beginning in as much as they put in their best.”
Bulama Kaka Bamadina, who started knitting caps as a young boy, said while he was in Tsangaya (Islamic studies), their tutor engaged all the Almajirai in cap knitting and it has become part of his daily life.
“Instead of staying idle when we got to the residence of the late Senator Zannah, we started knitting caps. In less than a week, we became very busy and productive. God has been faithful in prospering us. We’ve been able to take care of our family and sponsor our children in school.
“Although some have relocated back to Bama and usually bring caps us, the knitting alone cannot sustain us, which is why we got involved in buying and selling which is more lucrative. This place is now a market where people come to do business,” Kaka said.
Also speaking to Daily Trust, Modu Abbaye said he narrowly escaped death (in an attack that claimed his relations) in Bama town during the second attack by insurgents, which left his home and source of livelihood completely burnt down.
He noted that his grandfather and parents’ occupation was cap knitting but while he was growing up, he decided to complement it with carpentry.
“When I was in Bama, I engaged in carpentry work but after my daily work, I usually knit caps to support my income. When we fled to Maiduguri, hunger and idleness pushed us to start knitting caps. We had no money because we left Bama with nothing except the clothes on us that fateful day.
“So, I started the business of cap knitting and selling which has been lucrative. I’ve been taking care of my family, relatives and even send my children to school. I haven’t received any support from any organization since I fled to Maiduguri.
“The amazing thing is that I make more money here than in Bama. Back home, we make between N7,000 and N9,000 depending on the quality but here, we make between N15,000 and N25,000 because we have direct contact with customers. We enjoy the business here. The business is gradually expanding and people from Kano, Kaduna and Abuja are now patronizing us, but we hope to go back to Bama someday.”
Abbaye bemoaned the effect of insurgency on businesses and how it has created countless problems for businessmen in the area.
“A lot of businessmen died from trauma as a result of insurgency. You can imagine someone who had a business worth N10m or N20m now turned to a beggar. They now rely on NGOs and government for help. The situation is very pathetic.”
