Hamza Shehu Aliyu, a 30-year-old graduate of Physics from the Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto seems to be the only male in Sokoto that ventured into Kosai (beans cake) business which is generally viewed, particularly in the state, as an exclusive business for females.
Daily Trust learnt that he is not doing this business for as a resort because he is the son of a one-time permanent secretary in the state who could use his connection to get him a white-collar job.
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According to him, he had turned down several job offers because he is contented with what he’s getting as profit from his new found business.
He told our reporter that he makes no less than N15,000 every day and has three employees under him.
Our reporter observed that Hamza usually opens for business in the evening.
Hamza’s kosai is patronized by people from all walks of life because of its taste.
Isa Abubakar Shuni, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Sokoto State Council, said he loves eating Hamza’s kosai because of the quality of ingredients he uses which makes it different from others.
“It is tasty, very rich in terms of ingredients and we buy it to encourage him and to tell idle youths that one can take a life from businesses seen as exclusively for females,” he said.
Hamza usually starts frying kosai around 7pm and before 10pm, he is done for the day due to high demands.
“People call me to book. Before, I used to process only a quarter of a Mudu of beans but now I process four.
“I open for business around 7pm, that is after sunset prayer and close between 10pm and 11pm and when the market is good, I close by 9pm,” he said.
Going down memory lane, Hamza said he started the business after his one-year mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC) programme in 2017.
“When I was in the university, I was selling brocades but lost my capital along the line.
“I then ventured into beans processing, packaging and selling and the business was booming. I then thought of using my product to make kosai and I started with a little quantity; just one gram of beans powder. And now, I process four mudus because the demand is high,” he said.
He recalled that he consulted his parents before venturing into the business who initially opposed to the idea.
“My father is a retired permanent secretary and he has been using his connection to get me a lucrative job which I turned down because I prefer to be independent.
“He doesn’t like the business but I convinced him that this is what I’m interested in and he succumbed,” he said.
His siblings, especially his sisters, and friends sometimes mock him for doing a business associated with females.
“But I am not perturbed or discouraged. I tell them that kosai is also a business and I love it. At least, I am old enough to choose the kind of business I can venture into,” he said.
“I feel more fulfilled now. I am now an employer of labour. I’m helping to reduce unemployment in my society. Right now, I have three people working under me,” he said.
Hamza mulled opening more branches across the state, saying very soon he would start home service.
He advised youth in the state to desist from idleness and thuggery because there are several business opportunities at their disposal.
“We have a lot of opportunities; we don’t have to wait for government jobs or white-collar jobs,” he counselled.
Another customer, Auwal Abubakar, observed that a long queue at his place was his major concern.
“You will hardly get it without queuing up. So, what I normally do now is that I call him to book at least 30 minutes before going there. But the problem is, if you don’t go on time, it will finish before you get there,” he said.
On why he patronizes him, he said the bean cake is very delicious and a good appetizer.
“I have not seen any woman that makes kose as tasty as his,” he added.
Speaking, Hamza’s mother, Hajiya Amina, said they initially objected to the idea because in their tradition, only female venture into this kind of business.
Another reason, she said, is they wanted to protect the image and reputation of their family because his father is a well-known person and retired seasoned civil servant who is now dedicated to serving his God.
“When he consulted us over the business, we vehemently objected because it is against our culture but he insisted.
“His father advised him to combine the business with a government job but he declined. Just recently, he got a job with the Nigeria Immigration Service but he turned down the offer. We decided to leave him to continue with his business because we don’t know Allah’s plan for him. This can be the source of his fame and wealth in the future. This is why we’re praying fervently for his success.”
