I established my IT firm at 16, says varsity student
Mahmud Ali Baba Kusa, a 300-level student of Computer Engineering at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) in this interview spoke on how he established an Internet Technology (IT) company at the age of 16 and how it is faring.
WHow was
hat motivated you to establish an IT company?
The fact that I was born into a family of businessmen and also living in a business area in Kano, made me to develop interest in business at a very young age. I could remember when we were kids, my brother and I were always engaged in one business or the other. We were always thinking of selling candies, purchasing rice in small quantity because we realized that people bought in small quantities, and small packets of rice were not available in the market.
I also remember that when we were in JSS1, some beautiful watches from China came into the market. I bought one and went to school with it and showed it to my friends. While I was doing that, somebody said he wanted it and I offered to supply it. I always wanted to be self-reliant; I wanted to own my company so that I could help to reduce the rate of unemployment in our society. In fact I was not having any financial problem when I started; I just wanted to use the skill I had to grow my business for the benefit of people. the company
established?
I developed my business plan when I was still in secondary school. I then approached a family friend who is a lawyer to register it with the Corporate Affairs Commission in my final year in secondary school; that was in 2014. At the initial stage, it started as a web design firm, but later it was expanded to provide services and products like educational software and information technology consultancy. I spent not less than N60, 000 to start off.
How is it faring now?
The company is faring well. I have designed web sites for some schools and companies and currently I’m into talks with some universities and some heads of department at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK). At BUK, I met a friend who also has an IT company but not registered, so we agreed to work together. We go out to source for business. Designing a web site takes us not less than three weeks depending on the complexity of the site and we charge between N150,000 to N250,000. Sometimes I charge less and sometimes I design a web site for fun. But I want people to know that an IT company is a long term investment. It is not something that one can get quick profit from; it has to take some time. How are you coping,
combining business with studies?
I try to balance them, but sometimes it is difficult. IT is something that needs a lot of time and concentration. Even my lecturers ask me how I am coping.
Do you have the support of your parents?
Yes, I do. My parents have been very supportive, although at the beginning they expressed reservations due to my studies. They felt I was spending more time on my computer than my studies. But I am doing my best to balance them.
Any challenges?
The first challenge I had was when I wanted to register the company with the Corporate Affairs Commission. I had to sign and they said I was too young to be the main signatory. Also when I wanted to open a corporate bank account for the company, I had some problems because of my age.
Another challenge I have is that people find it difficult to accept me as the Chief Executive Officer of the company. Most times, I present myself as an engineer, especially when I want to bid for a business in a big organisation. Sometimes we are not given jobs because many organisations prefer to deal with foreigners.
What is your plan for the future?
I want my company to be one of the best internet technology companies in the world. My calculation is that by 2026, technology companies will lead the economy of Nigeria. We wish to play a key role in it, God willing.
Do you have any advice for youths?
I want youths to know that nothing good comes easy. They aspire to be like some billionaires but do not want to start somewhere, that is wrong. Sometimes my friends ask me where I would want to work after completing my studies and I tell them that I don’t want to work in big places like the NNPC and the others like they are aspiring. I tell them that I want to work in a technology company where I can make the best use of my knowledge.