Isiaka Adamu, from street begging to trading

As early as 7.am, Isiaka Adamu, a physically challenged person, leaves his home at Aduwawa in Ikpoba Okha LGA of Edo State to the popular Ring Road where he displays items for sale.

While most of his colleagues have taken pleasure in begging, Adamu decided to do the unthinkable and has thus proven to the world that impossibility only exists in the mind.

The 25-year-old Adamu who sells his wares opposite the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said he was comfortable with street trading.

He sits under an umbrella at with his items and beckons on people to patronise him.

Adamu, who hails from Tafawa Balawa LGA of Bauchi State, came to Edo in 2018 to join his physically challenged counterparts in begging.

He said his desire was to raise money and own a big shop where he would sell various items.

“I came to Benin in 2018 to be begging for alms in order to earn a living, but at a point I got tired of the business as a result of the way people look down us,” he said.

Adamu, who was using a skate to meander among vehicles soliciting for alms, said the business had not been easy for him as there was no time to rest.

“The business is tedious because we move with all our strength, especially in crossing the road. The only time we rest is during prayer time, and we are always on the business from 7.am to 6.pm.

The physically challenged said he got fed up with begging due to the way some people insulted them whenever they solicited for alms.

“While some took pity on us, others will simply tell us to go back to our towns and beg or go and work.

“Begging for money is not so easy because you have to endure many things; even when you are not happy with people’s comment sometimes,’ he explained.

On his profit, Adamu said he was making a profit of between N800 and N1000 on a daily basis and even more on a good day.

Adamu who sells shoe polish, toothbrushes, shaving sticks, biros, cotton buds, razor blades, soap, among others, told our correspondent that there was dignity in labour.

“I started this business with N10,000, and I make an average profit of between N1,000 and N2,000 on a daily basis. I prefer this one to begging because I am always sitting in one place. I receive much patronage,” he said.

On harassment of street traders by the government’s task force, Adamu said he had not been harassed, adding that he was also exempted from paying tax.

Adamu further said he was married with two children, who attend school.

He, therefore, called on other physically challenged persons to engage in business because there was respect and dignity in earning a living.

He appealed to the government to assist the physically challenged and the less privileged to start businesses of their choice.