Magaji speaks: How I became a shop owner after carrying load

Twenty-seven-year old Magaji Goma Tsakuwa, came to Sabon Gari market in Kano barely 10 years ago as an Almajiri who roamed the market carrying loads on his head to eke a living.

Today, Magaji said in an interview, he has five people working in his store in the market, and lives in his own house in Kano city.

Magaji, who hails from Tsakuwa community of Minjibir Local Government of Kano State said he used to go to the market on school-free days, so as not to drop out of school.

“I first entered Sabon Gari market about 10 years ago as an Almajiri, then I was very small, carrying load on my head when there was no school.

“After my graduation from Qur’anic school, I resumed fully at the market and one of them who sells torch lights asked me to be staying around his shop for more jobs,” Magaji narrated.

Magaji said he continued that way and earned the trust of some customers from the Northeast.

“Now, these businessmen send millions of naira to me from states like Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi and others to buy goods for them without even coming to Kano due to the trust they have in me,” he said.

He now operates a shop where he sells torchlights and other wares, with two of his younger siblings in charge, as he continues his supply business to customers outside Kano. “I have at least five people under me, Alhamdulillah.”

Although Magaji’s entrepreneurial journey has been fruitful, it is not without challenges. Part of these challenges made him almost give up.

Some of the secrets of success in his line of business, the entrepreneur said, are “patience, sincerity and hard work. “And once you are trusted in the market, nobody will be afraid of engaging you in transactions. If I can achieve this, everyone else can,” Magaji said.

He also called on the government to support people like him to grow their enterprises.

“I am appealing to the government to consider us by giving grants and loans to small businesses. We can help to reduce the unemployment rate,” he added.