Rukkayat is a young entrepreneur eager to break into the fashion industry. However, her dreams were held back due to a lack of capital. She had the skills and passion but struggled to take her business to the next level without the necessary funds to invest in materials and equipment.
“I’ve always loved making clothes, a skill I learned from my mum. I’ve mostly used her sewing machine to make my own dresses, and whenever people see them, they always compliment my work. I really wanted to get a machine of my own so I could train young girls and help them become self-reliant. However, I had no financial assistance, and with the way the economy is right now, no one was willing to support me. I kept trusting and praying for a breakthrough until I connected with the UNDP and KASEDA, through the Prevention Facility Project.” Rukkayat narrates
“I was so happy to be part of the first batch to participate in the training, and to be honest, I learned a lot. The training covered everything from bookkeeping and financial management to identifying opportunities. It really opened my eyes to how I can grow my business. After receiving the grant, I bought a machine and started sewing school uniforms for children. Before long, I began receiving contracts from schools to supply uniforms, and I also started making school bags, which are affordable and economical. This made it easier for people to patronize me.
I’ve been applying the knowledge I gained, saving a portion of all my sales. Now, I’m planning to get my own shop and purchase more machines so I can start training young girls who are interested in becoming self-reliant. I’ve been making a good income, which has not only helped me provide for myself but also support my family. I’m so happy and thankful to UNDP and KASEDA for this brilliant initiative.”
Meet 43-year-old Umar Muhammad, a professional vulcanizer who learned the trade from his grandfather at the age of 13. He made it his sole means of livelihood, taking over his father’s shop in Malumfashi, Katsina, where he was thriving—until one fateful day when unknown gunmen attacked his community and burned down his shop.
“I’ve always been a hardworking man, but sometimes you can’t predict what life throws at you,” Umar recalls. “My shop and my entire means of livelihood were destroyed by bandits, and I had to flee with my family to Jibia LGA to start over. Life was tough, but as a man, I kept hoping for things to get better.” Umar Narrates
Having lost all his tools and means of livelihood, Umar faced the daunting task of finding a way to sustain and provide for his family—two wives and eight children. He had to start from scratch, but with unwavering determination, he decided to rebuild his life with a local hand pump.
“After a few weeks in Jibia, I knew I had to find work,” Umar recalls. “With the little money I had, I bought a manual hand pump and rented a space to offer my services. Although I was able to make some petty cash to support my family, the manual process took too much time. I often lost customers because I couldn’t work fast enough. I needed a better machine to speed up my work and increase my income, but I didn’t have enough funds to do that,”Umar laments.
Umar was one of the beneficiaries selected to participate in the Financial Management training, where he also received a grant of 150,000 Naira. From the moment he received the grant, he knew exactly how he would invest the money, combining it with the valuable knowledge gained from the training to take his business to the next level.
“I was happy to be part of the financial management training. It was my first time participating in such an initiative, and I was even more excited when I received a grant of 150,000 Naira,” Umar shares with a smile. “I immediately pictured myself buying a better machine for my business, and I also started thinking about getting into the recycling business. I’m glad I did. Now, I supply recycled tyres to furniture makers. It has been a life-changing experience for me. I’m so grateful to UNDP and KASEDA for this timely act of support,” Umar narrates happily.
Meet 40-year-old Ibrahim, who, despite his disability, has turned his challenges into strengths, demonstrating remarkable ability and resilience. Though he wasn’t born with a disability, a fire injury in 2007 severely affected his waist, leaving him unable to walk.
I wasn’t born this way,” Ibrahim recalls. “I was severely injured during a fire incident while trying to rescue people. I got stuck and fell, which left me unable to walk. That incident changed my whole life. I was so depressed that I refused to go out for months because I didn’t know what else to do. My injury made it impossible for me to continue my farming business, so I resorted to begging on the streets. But I knew that wasn’t sustainable—I needed to find a steady source of income.”
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Determined to find strength amidst his disability, Ibrahim enrolled in a shoemaking training program, and ever since, he hasn’t looked back. With dedication and hard work, he has turned his new skills into a sustainable livelihood, proving that challenges can be transformed into opportunities.
“After I learned the skill, I started repairing shoes for people in my compound. Before I knew it, I began getting customers from the neighborhood. They told me my work was quick and better than others, and that’s how I became the go-to person for shoe repairs in my area,”Ibrahim shared with pride.
Despite the progress in his business, the prevailing conflict in Jibia has hindered its expansion, particularly given the cross-border dynamics that are crucial for growth. Security challenges have disrupted trade routes and strained relationships with neighboring communities, limiting access to essential markets and resources. This has not only stifled potential business opportunities but has also increased operational costs and risks, making it difficult for businesses like Ibrahim’s to scale and reach full potential.
In addition to insecurity, Ibrahim did not have the financial capacity to expand his business. He had the skills to make shoes but lacked the funds to purchase raw materials, which were quite expensive. This financial barrier limited his ability to expand his business as much as he wanted to.
“I was really excited when I was selected to benefit from the training and grants provided by UNDP,” Ibrahim shared. “It shows that indeed no one is left behind, including persons with disabilities. We were treated equally, and every opportunity given to others was also given to us. After receiving the grant of 150,000 Naira, I purchased a shoe filling machine and some high-quality leather. This has allowed me to expand my business. I now make good leather shoes and sell them for a decent amount. This has really helped me and my family.”
Ibrahim now aspires to expand his business and eventually open his own shop. He is also passionate about training others, especially youth, in shoemaking and repair. Currently, he already has apprentices under his guidance and is eager to welcome more, sharing his skills to help others build sustainable livelihoods.
With support from the government of Germany, through the Prevention Facility project and in collaboration with the Katsina State government, UNDP has provided Financial Management training and grants to local business owners.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners often aspire to expand and access better tools and capital, but external factors frequently limit their opportunities. As a result, many are constrained by what is available to them, affecting their income, resilience, and the overall productivity of their communities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Prevention Facility Project in the Northwest is helping to address these challenges by providing support and resources aimed at boosting business capacity, resilience, and community productivity.
With support from the government of Germany, through the Prevention Facility project and in collaboration with the Katsina State government, UNDP has provided Financial Management training and grants to local business owners. This initiative aims to equip entrepreneurs and small business owners with the skills and resources needed to improve their financial planning, budgeting, and overall business management. By doing so, the project helps enhance business owner’s capacity to grow and sustain their businesses, making them more resilient to external economic challenges. Additionally, the financial grants provide much-needed capital to expand operations, purchase better tools, and increase productivity. Ultimately, this initiative is designed to boost local economies, reduce poverty, and improve community livelihoods in the Northwest region.
Dr. Sadiq Mutazu, the Program Manager for the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), highlighted the significant support provided by UNDP and its impact on the local economy. “The Financial Management training and grants offered through the Prevention Facility project have empowered over 2000 small business owners with essential skills and resources to improve their operations. This, in turn, has led to increased business growth, job creation, and enhanced resilience to economic challenges, ultimately boosting the local economy in Katsina State”
Dr. Mutazu praised the collaboration between UNDP, the government of Germany, and the Katsina State government for fostering sustainable economic development in the region.
35 years old Nura Usman, a small-scale trader residing in Jibia LGA, Katsina State, is a unique example of how impactful the UNDP-supported initiatives can be.
For years, Nura struggled to expand his business despite his determination. Limited access to capital, tools, and financial knowledge hindered his growth. However, through one of the Prevention Facility project components, (economic revitalization/livelihood), Nura received Financial Management training and a grant, enabling him to improve his business operations. This support not only helped him increase his income but also enhanced his ability to withstand economic challenges, transforming his livelihood and contributing to the economic resilience of his community
“I started trading immediately after finishing secondary school, so I’ve been in the business for over 20 years. I managed to establish a shop, which I’ve run for years,” Nura narrates. “But I realized I was just moving in circles. My business was not growing, and sometimes I even had to go into debt just to keep it afloat. I was not happy at all. The insecurity around the border only made things worse, as customers could not cross over to buy my goods, I was barely surviving, living hand to mouth. “ Nura narrates
NuraUNDP Nigeria/Ayodeji Daniel Adeyemo
Nura was among the first 1,000 participants to receive financial management training and grants through Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) under the Prevention Facility Project. He had the opportunity to access a One million Naira loan, which has since helped his business grow from strength to strength.
“I never believed I could have access to such training and a loan,” Nura shared. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I was presented with my certificate and grant. As soon as I received the money, I put into action everything I had learned. I changed my approach to business, and ever since, I’ve seen rapid growth—not just in sales, but also in manpower.
Now, I keep proper bookkeeping, I save a portion of my profits every month, and the most important thing is that I’ve been able to employ over six people. In doing so, I’m contributing to the local economy and supporting others in my community”Nura explains with. joy on his face
Nura has since expanded his business and expresses delight in how convenient the loan repayment process has been. He expressed gratitude to UNDP and the Katsina State government for their support, acknowledging the positive impact the project has had on his business and livelihood.
“I want to sincerely thank UNDP and the Katsina State government for empowering business owners like me,” Nura shared. “This initiative will not only help us grow our businesses but also strengthen the local economy by creating more jobs and opportunities for others.” Nura expresses
