Haruna Yusuf Abba is a 27-year-old graduate of political science. An entrepreneur and politician, his engagement in the mining business at a tender age gave him a good idea of what he wanted to do in the future.
Although opposed by his parents over his desire to venture into the artisanal mining business, which has perforated the Tin City of Jos, in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Haruna followed his entrepreneurial instinct to become self-dependent.
Starting from scratch and realising that his passion could not be quenched, his parents eventually caved in to allow him to conduct his activities after school hours. They even later became referrals for those seeking his services.
“I started doing business in JSS 1. I go after school and at the weekends. I have a passion for business. I dedicated time to everything, and I don’t allow the time to overlap.”
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Now, the founder of HY Interglobal Concept, Haruna’s portfolio, has expanded into buying and selling solid minerals like gemstones, industrial mining and bureau de change transactions across the country.
Business was not the only passion he developed at a young age, but also politics. He described the two as innate, which “is my own personal conviction and thoughts that politics is a service to humanity while business is a venture to make a legit and legal income. I have been in business for over 13 years of my life; likewise, in politics, I was born with it.
“I conceived the idea of joining politics very early in life. Unfortunately, anytime the idea rears through my mind, I face the predicament of age and lack of resources.”
Engaging in politics has made Haruna a grassroots mobilizer and advocate of good governance and youth political participation, which is why he entered student unionism while undergoing his undergraduate studies at the University of Jos.
This culminated in the founding of an association called the GAMJI Memorial Club as well as contesting in the Students’ Union Government elections for a post he did not win.
Such setbacks did not deter him but spurred him into going into mainstream politics and contesting for a seat at the Plateau State House of Assembly.
Though he lost the election, he restates that his quest is that of becoming a successful politician and businessman.
“At least, if I am yet to impact humanity as I so desire and I have realised that fact, it becomes pertinent upon me to fully participate and contribute to achieve my dream and not to start with a pseudo narrative.”
He said combining the two has made him realise that the government cannot provide jobs for everyone, thus the need for skills and innovation among youth.
He advised the youth not to choose “comfort at the age of labour, so you won’t labour at the age of comfort,” a concept he said has been his greatest motivation, pushing him into the struggle for a better society.
“From student activism and unionism to mainstream politics, our lack is the same, and it is the will to be patriotic even when the lights are off. To provide answers to these questions, we must be courageous as young people to not just stand up but to stand out for and with the truth, because only the truth can heal and cure our ailing nation.
“Thus, if there is one thing I want to achieve through my memoir, it is to be able to motivate other young people to look beyond the depressing narratives of the past and stand up against all odds to own the process of our democracy.”
