Umar Ahmed was once a thriving footwear trader on the streets of Abuja. However, circumstances forced him to relocate to Warri, Delta State, after his business collapsed.
Speaking at the bustling Igbudu Market in Warri South Local Government Area, Umar attributed the failure of his business to a lack of patronage. He explained that this was largely due to the discrimination faced by people living with disabilities in northern Nigeria.
The 48-year-old, a father of six and husband to two wives, explained that he came to Warri to seek a livelihood by begging for alms. His primary motivation was to raise money to cover his children’s school fees and eventually restart his footwear business.
A former Islamic school teacher, Umar understands the value of education. Despite the challenges, he is determined to ensure his children receive quality schooling, which is why he chose private schools over government-run ones. He shared his story, saying, “I’m Umar Ahmed from Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State. I have six children and two wives.
“I wasn’t born with a disability. I could walk normally until the age of 10 when I suddenly became paralyzed after an afternoon nap. My parents did everything they could to help me regain my mobility, but it was unsuccessful. Now, I’m 48 years old. My parents are still alive, and I have nine siblings.”
Umar explained how he worked hard to support himself despite his condition. “I used to sell footwear in Abuja, but I ran out of capital. When the business failed, I turned to begging, as it was the only way to survive. However, begging in the North wasn’t profitable.”
He recounted his earlier jobs, saying, “Before I started begging, I was teaching in an Arabic school for a salary of N10,000, but it wasn’t enough to support my family. I later borrowed N50,000 from a sibling to start my footwear business, but poor patronage caused it to fail.”
Determined to provide for his family, Umar moved to Warri. “Three of my children are in primary school, while the other three are in secondary school. I enrolled them in private schools because I believe government schools don’t offer quality education. I pay N15,000 per term for each child. I don’t want my children to end up like me, struggling to make ends meet. Education is their best chance at a better future.”
Umar expressed his gratitude to the people of Delta State, describing them as kind-hearted and supportive. “In Warri, I can make up to N5,000 daily from begging. The people here are generous and often help the less privileged. I save a portion of what I earn and send it home to support my family. My dream is to save enough money to restart my footwear business in Warri because I’ve noticed people here are more willing to patronize small businesses.”
He also had a message for the government: “The government needs to make life easier for Nigerians, especially for those of us who rely on the goodwill of others to survive. These days, even N5,000 isn’t enough to meet basic needs because of the rising cost of food and other essentials. If nothing is done, people will start collapsing from hunger.”
Umar remains hopeful for a brighter future, driven by his commitment to his children’s education and his goal of rebuilding his business.
