You need to be resilient to build a successful business – Abatcha
It may not be an exaggeration to describe elderly Baba Abatcha as an epitome of the resilience every modern businessman should possess.
Alhaji Abatcha Bukar, 75, who hails from Gamboru Ward, Maiduguri metropolis, is a processed-in-the-mill cattle and property merchant, and 2020 award winner of Fidelity Bank as the best customer in Borno State.
He preaches that every businessman, of whatever commodity, must develop resilience and diversify according to the demands of situations to earn recognition and win awards.
“Every businessman must pay his dues in business before business pays him,” Alhaji Abatcha says.
He would not
describe himself as a millionaire, but said: “I have been a depositor with Fidelity Bank for about 30 years. I think that is what earned me their best depositor award.”
He would also not disclose, even estimate, his total deposit with the bank, which is not a surprise since it is customary with his peers to always be modest with their earnings.
“I was a cattle merchant for about 30 years, conveying truck-loads of cattle from Borno to Lagos. I was frustrated out of it by the leaping prices. The cattle became so expensive for me that I had to save my little capital for another business.
“The money that used to be enough for you to a truck-full of cattle is now barely enough for you to buy two cows; consider, also, the increasing cost of transporting the cattle to the south; this is why the cattle business is gradually deteriorating.”
Alhaji Abatcha had to invest his little capital into buying and selling plots of land in Maiduguri.
However, this business also has its challenge, and only the resilience of Alhaji Abatcha gets him going in it.
“Boko Haram insurgency has crashed the prices of land,” he lamented to Kanem Trust.
``Nobody now wants to buy a plot of land on the outskirts for fear of attack by Boko Haram; even we the businessmen seldom venture far on the outskirts to buy the farms to sell as plots.
“In spite of the situation, I am still going into business, and even saving the little I can in my Fidelity Bank account.
“Every businessman must be prepared to surmount challenges or manoeuvre out of them to get going in business,” he Maintained.
“I will remain highly grateful to Fidelity Bank for honoring me for the award; I will continue saving with them,” he said.