Sahad Stores is a household name, especially in northern Nigeria. For many, the name is synonymous with a huge supermarket chain in the north. Yet, few know the story behind its origin or the man behind the successful mega-business. Alhaji Ibrahim Mijinyawa, the businessman behind Sahad, was born in the Mandawari area of Kano.

In an interview with Kaftan TV’s Sirrin Nasarar Kasuwa, he shared how he started his business and how the name Sahad came to be. Reflecting on his life, he described it as a remarkable story — too many to recount in a single sitting. He explained that he was born after years of his parents’ childlessness, and shortly after his birth, his father separated from his mother, who was the only child of his grandmother.

Following this, his grandmother, Mari Mai Koko, took over his upbringing. Raised solely by her, Mijinyawa did not attend an Islamic or Western school in his early years but as he matured, he recognised the value of education and enrolled himself in a boarding school, studying alongside younger students. Later, he joined a formal evening school known as Festival School, run by Igbo teachers. Throughout this journey, his only support came from his grandmother, a respected figure in Mandawari.

Can you take us back to when it all began, when did you start your business?

I began my journey as a messenger in a company, earning between £7 and £10 a month. I worked there for nine months, carefully saving a few pounds in an Antikurya, a hidden pocket used in those days to keep money safe. It was so discreet that retrieving money from it was nearly impossible without the owner’s knowledge. Once I had saved enough, I decided to leave the job and start selling clothes.

I got a bicycle and used it to carry my goods. Then, there was a popular fabric used for sewing trousers. We would buy remnants from second-hand clothing vendors and resell them at places like Tashar Kuka and Tashar Nasarawa. There were days I went three days without making a single sale.

Eventually, I built a wooden kiosk, something no one had done at the time, as kiosks were mostly used for selling lemon juice or kunun zaki. My vision was to turn it into a proper fabric shop. The business picked up, and I moved to Kantin Kwari Market near Yan Tebur.

As destiny would have it, a caretaker chairman named Uba Adamu was appointed and ordered all traders to relocate to Kofar Wambai Market. We were among the first to open there and were allocated stalls. I sold my stall and used the proceeds to reinvest in my kiosk. I developed a strategy: I would go out in the morning to retail on my bicycle and return in the evening to sell at my kiosk in Mandawari.

When the fabric business flourished, I began traveling to source goods like women’s lace, English wax, and other premium brands. At that time, I was the only one in Kano selling such items.

Could you share a moment when you faced significant challenges in running your business?

It was during Shehu Shagari’s administration.

Could you share how the name ‘Sahad’ came to be?

The name originated during the Iraq War during the former president of Iraq – Saddam Hussein. My shop was known as Fahad at the time. During the Gulf War, Nigeria was supporting one of the warring parties, so people advised that I change the name of my shop or risk consequences.

I wasn’t financially strong then, and changing the signage, which was written with a light-emitting diode, was expensive. I didn’t have the money to replace everything, so I sat down and started experimenting with names. I removed the letter “F” and tried “A” for Ahad—it didn’t work. Then “B” for Bahad, it still didn’t work. Finally, I tried “S” for Sahad, and it felt nice to me. That’s how I changed the name from Fahad to Sahad. By God’s blessing, the name drew attention, and I prospered. Radio stations would come to collect information, broadcasting that a store had changed its name to Saddam. They didn’t realize it was Sahad and the store became even more popular.

What happened next?

A tragedy occurred when Governor Abubakar Rimi began disrespecting President Shagari, calling him “Shagarai.” Shagari got angry and ordered Customs officers to crack down on foreign goods, including those at Kantin Kwari.

We were worried, so I decided to change the business line. I bought a land on Mandawari Road and built a store as a “Supermarket” named Fahad — before the name changed to Sahad.

We continued business until Buhari staged a coup and ordered that all stalls be demolished. I moved my shop to a location I had previously acquired but never used at Mallam Nasir Kabara’s house. From there, I returned to Kantin Kwari and bought another shop.

While there, a new brand of women’s wrapper called Batik was introduced, and I became famous for it. Eventually, by God’s grace, I opened a shop in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. With N8m, I bought a land and built a store in Zone 4, with my house on top and commercial shops below.

Could you walk us through your pricing strategy and how it distinguishes you from others in the market?

I do not give goods on credit, but I reduce the cost of goods. If something sells for N1,000 elsewhere, I can sell mine for N950 or N980. That’s how I attract, win, and retain customers.

Apart from Kano and Abuja, are there other states where you have established outlets, and what influenced those expansion choices?

Yes, I have an outlet in Jigawa, where former Governor Sule Lamido generously allocated a land for me to build. I also have outlets in Minna, Niger State; Maiduguri; and Bauchi, which are nearing completion. In Kaduna, I was also given a land by former governor El-Rufai to establish another branch.

There’s talk that you own a hospital. Could you share how that initiative came about?

Yes, I have a hospital, but it wasn’t built for profit. I built it for reward, so that even after I’m gone, the blessings will continue. I also established a school and a mosque with the same intention: to serve the community and earn lasting spiritual benefit.

Are there any plans to take your business beyond Nigerian shores?

No, I don’t have plans to expand my business outside Nigeria. When you invest in a business, even if it is your child managing it, you must be patient. Without patience, success won’t come. My focus is on ensuring that my fellow countrymen benefit from my wealth and the opportunities it creates.

Tell us a bit about your family and the role they play in your journey.

I have four wives and nineteen children. Some of them studied medicine specifically to help manage the hospital I built. It’s a family effort, and I’m proud that they’ve chosen to contribute to something built for the benefit of the community.

As a businessman, you travel a lot. Do you know how many countries you’ve visited?

Although I’m not highly educated and do not speak English, there is no country in the world that I have not visited, and I didn’t just pass through; I conducted business in each one. Every country I’ve been to, I know deeply than people might expect. (Weekend Trust, excluding headline)