I want to reduce unemployment with catering, fashion craft — Aysha

Aysha Abba is 24 years old from

Kano State. The Urban and Regional Planning graduate of Bells University of Technology in Ota, Ogun State, has however found love in catering and fashion services. In this interview, she bares it

all about her businesses.

What motivated you to go into business? I always had interest in business, that’s why people call me “Uwar Sabga”. But I have more interest in catering services. What motivated me to go into the business is that I have always been an independent person.

How has the ongoing pandemic affected your business operations?

This COVID-19 pandemic has affected a lot of businesses around the world, but it hasn’t affected me that much. Recently, I sent sanitizers and other health equipment to Niger Republic, and made some scrub tops for health workers in Kano. Also, I still do my catering services and deliver to my clients at their door steps.

Where do you see your company

in five years?

I see my firm among the biggest businesses in Nigeria. I also expect to start seeing my products circulating everywhere.

My vision is to build Choopee’s Chops and Sabga Investment into well-established ventures simultaneously and use them as vehicle for job creation with a primary purpose of contributing my quota to the reduction of youth unemployment in Kano and in Nigeria at large.

Who are your role models?

My role models are Alhaji Rabiu Abdulsamad (BUA Group), Alhaji Aliko Dangote of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Sarina (Azman Group), Alhaji Garba Karfe, and Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

Do you agree that more northern women are becoming entrepreneurs?

Yes. More northern women are becoming entrepreneurs, especially on social media platforms.

What are the challenges you face?

I have faced a lot of challenges which include customers not paying on time, and some customers asking for free services. Due to lack of huge capital, I was not consistent at a time and my businesses crashed. But they have been revived and are moving.

How would you want to be supported by the government?

The government should support us doing small businesses with capital to sustain them. For me, I have almost 10 more business plans for expanding my firm but the capital is not available.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are reading, traveling and cooking, and that’s why catering is a part of me.