‘I’m blind but I do laundry for a living’
It sounds incredible that a blind man can be a laundryman, but Haruna Nepa, a 50-year-old man washes and irons clothes despite being blind. Nepa who hails from Kano State narrates how he got into the laundry business and the challenges he faces. certainly the work of God. He DT: What are the happened 15 years ago. I had to has blessed me with something challenges you face? move my family to somewhere beyond imagination. I don’t see My major challenge safe and as a result I left where with my eyes but I see with my is lack of unity within Nigerians. I had stayed all my life. Another heart. Honestly, I hardly mix up Muslims and Christians are not challenge I face is lack of power clothes. It is very rare for me to united. There is no peace at all supply. give my customer somebody in the country because we have DT: Where do you see else’s clothes. Surprisingly, I been divided. The reason why yourself in a few years’ time? have had instances where my I moved to Rido was because of I wish to finish customers picked the wrong the Kaduna religious crisis that building my house and move in clothes and they were fascinated when I told them they were not theirs and I picked the right one and gave it to them. People identify their clothes by colours while I usually know all the clothes brought in by my customers. I know where I keep all the washed clothes, so if a customer comes to get his clothes, I know the particular place I kept them so it is very easy for me to bring out the clothes.
DT: Have you ever given someone the wrong clothes?
I am not perfect and we all make mistakes. But really, it takes a long time before I make such a mistake. I am very careful when it comes to sorting out people’s clothes.
DT: Do you have a strategy you normally use when sorting clothes out?
For example, if a customer brings his clothes today I know where I will keep them. Days later when he comes for them, I know where exactly I have placed his clothes. In fact, even a customer that brought his clothes a week ago, I can clearly show you where his clothes are kept.
DT: Have you burnt a cloth while ironing before?
I haven’t burnt any clothes before. But you know every business has its ups and downs.
DT: How many sets of clothes do you wash in a day?
If business is good for me, I wash like 50 pieces of clothes in a day and if I am lucky electricity is on, I just go ahead and start ironing some of the clothes that same day. DT: Does the business pay?
As far as I am concerned this business pays a lot because it has prevented me from street begging. I have never sought assistance from anyone like most blind people do and I have always hated begging. I don’t see my deformity as something that warrants me to go on the streets begging. I take care of my personal and financial needs from this business. So far the biggest thing I have done from my business is that I bought a plot of land from my profit. Presently, I am building my own house and the construction has gone half way. my family. When I do that, I will be a successful man and I will have peace of mind knowing I don’t have to pay rent. There is no greater blessing than having your own house.
DT: How big family?
is your
It is not really a big family. I am married to a loving wife and God has blessed us with six children.