‘Why I left begging to start marketing tissue paper’

The image of an elderly man selling tissue paper by the NEPA roundabout along Ali Akilu road in Kaduna is unmistakable as the man ambles giddily from one vehicle to another to advertise his mono- item ware - packs of tissue papers.

Sometimes motorists moved by emotion rather than the needs for the item patronize him.

The goodwill has Malam Ya’u Adamu, on his feet and smiling for the past three years.

He explained to Arewa Trust that the idea of selling items did not occur to him until about three years as he had lived a better part of his adult life begging.

Adamu said he was compelled to look for other means of livelihood when Governor Nasir El-Rufai on assuming office made moves to ban street begging in Kaduna State.

“That was when I realized that I had to do other things to feed myself and my family,” he said.

Yau said he got the initial capital for the business from what he had and was able to convince friends to give him the items to sell before returning the money.

The octogenarian however said he feels happier doing something now rather than begging.

“I’m aware people patronize me because of my old age, that’s why they keep buying from me,” he said adding that he sells a pack of the tissue paper at N250 naira.

Adamu said he makes about N2000 profit on a carton before but said now that the price of a carton has gone up it had reduced his gain leaving him with only about N1800 profit on each carton.

He says it is from the profit that he takes care of himself and his family.