By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo
The fascinating story of Ilorin born businessman but resident in Kano, Ahmad Abdulkadir Firdaus is the one filled with a rare commitment and tenacious disposition. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Aquarich Integrated Services, Hydro Blue Water and Habidaus Global Concept in Kano. Indeed, no businessman or an entrepreneur would ever tell you it is easy to be in business or self employed but he has been making remarkable progress against all odds.
It interests me to write about him because I have been in the know of how he has positively metamorphosed from being an employee to become an employer of labour in the commercial city of Kano. Firdaus story is not a fairy tale as those who know him can attest to his growth in the Kano business community.
Sincerely, it is through observation of him I got to know practically that you don’t invest in a business if you don’t have time to monitor it, otherwise you would be feeding the greedy and glutton among your workers inadvertently, and before you know it, the business has collapsed. They don’t want to know how you come about the capital for the business but they would be ready to drain the resources to comatose, since no one would be around to have critical monitoring of their activities.
Successful businessmen do have challenges and that of Firdaus is no exception, especially given the current stifling inflation in the country. You must have the courage and sagacity to pull through in business with sincerity and promptness.
There was a time I visited Kano, precisely February, 2022 to attend the 40th Anniversary of Mass Communication Department in Bayero University, Kano, my alma mater. I observed him in the office and I discovered that he has full grasp of what it entails to run a business. He is an economist, so one shouldn’t expect less from him.
He is very strict but pragmatic. His strictness cannot be likened to nefariousness but proper way of doing things. He doesn’t cut corners. He will never bargain for substandard products.
As an entrepreneur you have a goal, but it should be predicated on your customers satisfaction. Without them your business will face retardation and sluggishness. That is why when you agree on a day and date for the supply of goods, do not renege. Customers develop confidence in someone based on their experience over time. If their experience is positive you are in for a good time with them.
Discipline as a core value in any setting, be it political, social or economic, will help anyone to grow; especially in business, financial discipline is key. To the best of my knowledge, Firdaus has it and his prudence is a great deal of idea.
*My relationship with Firdaus*
We are both from Ilorin but we didn’t know each other until we met in Bayero University, Kano. Although we gained admission the same time, he was a year ahead of me because his was a direct entry. Since graduation, the relationship has been sustained till today; alhamdulillahi! He is a thorough person, he neither receives ideas and/or opinions nor treat issues dogmatically. It takes a sound and convincing explanation of a subject matter to get him on the same page with one.
Our good friends, they say, are our lives. At one’s lowest hour, one must have that one person in whom to confide. This is reminiscent of Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter in which it is said “confiding in others always pain”.
Our relationship has transformed beyond friendship, it is now a familial bond. I can remember when I attended his wedding in Kaduna in the year
2009 and he reciprocated by attending my wedding in Ilorin together with his wife, an epitome of a good wife.
He is based in Kano but his door is always open to visitors. You can’t visit his family without giving a good account of their hospitality and humility. Great men are synonymous with humility and that has been my conviction over the years.
*His Philanthropic Activities*
He is a finest gentleman with a kind heart and generous disposition.He does not have a Foundation through which he reaches out to the less privileged because he believes giving to people is a personal thing and does not require publicity. His argument has been that he is doing it for the sake of Allah, not for people to praise him, and that getting a reward for doing good is preregative of Almighty Allah.
This is unlike politicians; there is no way they can keep in secrecy if they render assistance. If they don’t say it out, oppositions would use that against them, that they have neglected the people after gaining their mandates. So it is easy for him to do it in his own way, because he is not a politician.
There are cases of where he has helped and those people would be the one to tell me much later. If he helps you the third person would not hear about it. Emphatically, he has been kind to me as well.
Ahmad Abdulkadir Firdaus does not allow his busy schedules to deprive him of the opportunity to reach out to people through associations. He is currently the Vice President II of Bayero University Kano Alumni Association, the national body. He is also the Vice Chairman of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Kano Branch. He is a Patron of Ilorin Emirate Students Union, BUK Chapter.
He is a detribalized Nigerian; his hand of fellowship spreads beyond his tribes and associates.
*His business sojourn*
Firdaus joined Royal United Nigeria Limited in Lagos State in 2007. He was later transferred to Kano office where he rose from the position of Accounts Assistant to become Regional Manager, North. In his words “I joined Royal United Nigeria Limited in 2007 through my Guardian, Dr. Abdullahi Jibril Oyekan”
Ahmed Abdulkadir Firdaus was born to the family of Alfa Ahmad and Hajia Halima of Ile Machine, Oju Ekun Oke, Adangba, Ilorin and grew up at Sebutu compound, Ilorin. He had his primary and part of secondary school education in Ilorin before proceeding to Lagos where he completed it. He is happily married with kids.
Below are his Educational background, Awards, and excerpts of the interview with him.
*Academic Qualification
In 2005 he bagged B.Sc. Economics from Bayero University, Kano with second class upper. He also obtained Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2011 from the same institution. In 2006 he obtained Proficiency Certificate in Management and graduate member from the Nigerian institute of Management.
He became an Associate member , Institute of Chartered Economists in Nigeria (2006).
*Awards
Award of Excellence by Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, IEDPU Northern Zone, 2023
Award of Excellence by BUK Alumni, Ilorin Emirate chapter, 2023
Award of Excellence by An-nur Islamic Organization, BUK, 2021
Award of Excellence by Ilorin -Ifelodun Social Group, Kano, 2021
Markazul Ulum Wal Maharif Islamic School Dei Dei, Abuja, 2020
Award of Excellence by National Association of Kwara State Students, BUK Chapter, 2019
Award of Excellence by Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association, Kano, 2019
Award of Excellence by Ilorin Emirate Students’ Union, BUK, 2016
Certificate of Merit by National Youth Service Corps, Corps Welfare Association, Giginya Barracks, Sokoto, 2007
Merit Award (Chairman Fundraising) by Ilorin Emirate Students’ Union, BUK, 2005
Merit Award (Financial Secretary) by Ilorin Emirate Students’ Union, BUK, 2005
Merit Award (Member Fundraising) by Ilorin Emirate Students’ Union, BUK, 2004
Merit Award by Markaz Agege Alumni Association, BUK, 2003/2004
Al-Adabiyya Alumni Association, BUK, 2003/2004
Merit Award (Active member) Ilorin Emirate Students’ Union, BUK, 2002
*Interview Session*
What do you sell?
I sell different types/brands/sizes of Tyres and TableWater (HYDRO BLUE)
What could be the catalyst for your success in the business world?
Determination, patience, and passion can drive a business growth.
Nigerian economic challenges are enormous, but I always tell myself that if Dangote can do it, I can equally do with determination.
What advice do you have for upcoming entrepreneurs?
Business requires pragmatism, goal-oriented, and target. Including the culture of discipline
At the early stage of business, they must be available (full participation), adopt austere approach, have some level of accounting knowledge, and financial discipline.
They should understand that there is no shortcut to success; Rome was not built in a day.
Is it always rosy for your kind of business?
Not at all, like the Yoruba would say, a person that knows the day he would make plenty of sales might know the day of his death. Is just a saying nobody knows when he or she will die. No one can determine the day he or she will make enormous sales. However, business is unpredictable, most especially in the face of the current inflation that has influenced price instability.
It is obvious that even in the business world there are challenges but your ability to cope with its complexity and dynamism will determine how far you would go. This doesn’t rule out the significance of prayers as you weather the storm gradually. Our young men and women should cultivate the habit of sincerity and patience. Nothing good, they say, comes so easy. Get-rich-quick syndrome can’t be a way out of poverty but the road to doom. Patience is key to every facets of our lives just as Hausa saying “Hakuri maganin zaman duniyan”. Meaning patience is the key to successful life.
Firdaus, as a businessman is an example of those who would do their businesses diligently and would not surcharge the people.
He is in Kano, doing his business with utmost standard and excellent customer relations. Please patronise him for a life changing experience.
abdurraheemsaaddembo@gmail.com
