How deaf man’s vision powers Yelwa’s businesses

In Yelwa of Plateau State, a hearing-impaired man found an ingenious means to supply power to his community which has largely been in darkness since 2004, making him a millionaire in the process, as Daily Trust reports

After violent religious riots in 2004, Yelwa in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State has not enjoyed a regular power supply since.

Many electrical installations such as high-tension cables and transformers were destroyed and the lack of a steady power supply has affected the recovery of the town and crippled many small businesses.

• World Water Day: Over 60m Nigerians risk water-related diseases
• Insecurity: Nigeria’s corporate existence threatened — Northern govs

For many years this was the case until five years ago when Ahmadu Gambo Maidoki, 37, a resident, came up with an idea to provide electricity for the community.

When Maidoki looked into the darkness of his populous hometown, what he saw was a place with business opportunities waiting to be plugged into.

He thought of setting up a small power generating plant that would supply electricity to his community for a minimal fee.

Five years down the line, about 400 shops, stalls and small business are connected to “Wutan Kurma” or the deaf man’s power grid, because Maidoki suffers from hearing impairment.

Our correspondent, who visited the community, reports that Wutan Kurma is found in almost every corner of the community with customers including, phone chargers, business centres, teashops, provision stores, pharmacies among other numerous businesses within Yelwa.

“The pervasive problem of electricity in Yelwa community was what triggered me to think how this misfortune could be turned to a money-generating source to me and to find an alternative to power to the entire community through supplying locally generated electricity,” Maidoki said through a series of hand signs, some words that and the helpful interpretation of his younger brother.

His thousands of customers have made Maidoki a millionaire today as he charges different amounts to supply electricity to businesses depending on the business’ energy need.

Phone charging centres are charged N500 daily while roadside and street traders are charged N250-300 respectively.

The reason for the disparity according to him is that charging centres consume more energy than traders who only plug fans, electric bulbs and light up their business places between 9 am and 10 pm every day.

With this charging template, Maidoki rakes in between 28-30 thousand naira daily.

“Though I thought of the idea quite a long time ago,” he said, “I made several efforts to get all the necessary facilities including Lister diesel engine, wires, and the space to install them to ensure that everything was ready before starting.”

Maidoki said when he set all the necessary machinery in place, he then started and customers began to patronize his service.

Even he did not anticipate the kind of income he was going to make from the venture.

“What I am earning is quite surprising, So, apart from providing an alternative power to my community to improve their businesses, it is also serving as a source of income to me,” he said.

Maidoki has limited his operations to business owners, especially amongst small-scale business owners and petty street traders who majorly depend on him as their source of power to sell goods and perform various services.

He has been pestered by house owners to connect them to the Deaf Grid but he insists that Wutan Kurma would be for businesses for now because of the risk of plugging heavy appliances like water heaters, hotplates, refrigerators etcetera that could strain the generators. He admits even some of the shop owners are violating these terms. It is one of several challenges that have plagued his venture.

But he counts his gains more than he counts losses.

Maidoki has empowered many people in the community including his brothers and sisters.

“I have employed 22 persons who are managing the Lister engines, fuelling them and taking charge of fixing electric cables and detecting faulty connections. I have equally empowered my brothers and sisters to start-up businesses and they have been making it,” he said with pride.

He further said the money from the Deaf Grid has given him the capital to start other ventures like fertilizer sales, Vitafeed poultry products amongst others.

His impediment, he says, has not stopped him from taking up the challenge of impacting on his community and making some money while at it.

“Life is all about the ability to think constructively and acting on it,” he said.

Commenting on the development, the Yelwa traditional council applauded Maidoki for his selfless initiative, saying such enterprise has supported members of the community to boost their businesses and empower unemployed youth in the area.

A titleholder in the palace and Sarkin Jahun of Yelwa, Mal. Isa Suleiman Gadas said the community will remain forever grateful for the great development he has brought to for and enjoined him to offer more of such relentless services to the community.

“Although he generates income from the service but the members of the community benefit more than him because the local energy has opened doors for hundreds of people who are curious to start petty businesses,” he said.

While appreciating the initiative, the umbrella body of Yelwa Community Development Association (YCDA), applauded the young Maidoki for carrying out such worthwhile services in the community.

The YCDA chairman, Mal. Shuaibu Maidawa, who encouraged him to do more, also called on capable individuals and the government to support Maidoki for the advancement of inventiveness, saying with people like Maidoki, many would not wait for the government for any support or job.

Jamilu Kabir Ibrahim, one of the beneficiaries of the Deaf Grid and operator of a business centre said, “Wutan Kumar is like a substitute to NEPA without which our businesses cannot go smoothly. It is helping us to make our business thrives.”

Yusuf Shekarau, another beneficiary of the power supply said the initiative had helped him a lot in his phone charging business, saying, “The service is cheaper than using generator because if we are to use generators, the expenses would triple what we are charged by Maidoki.”