By Bala Ibrahim
The name Hon.Farouk Adamu Aliyu may sound strange to some people, but only those that are strangers to Jigawa state politics, the politics of marketing Muhammadu Buhari, and the enthusiasm of learning the business of self-reliance. Yes, when it comes to the art of appealing to the people, especially the rural dwellers in Jigawa state, his home state, Farouk had long found a niche among the politically specialized section of the population of his hitherto rural state of Jigawa.
As a young, eager and extremely enthusiastic entrepreneur, that is vibrantly engaged in entrenching the culture of youth empowerment amongst the young boys and girls that are roaming the high streets, in search of Government employment, long before now, Farouk took it upon himself to introduce interest in self employment. He was among the first young men in Kano, to start microbusinesses in the old Kano, Nigeria’s oldest commercial centre.
He started the HANG-OUT on Zoo Road in the nineties, an eatery-cum relaxation centre, that was operating on a very small scale, but providing solace and employment to the youth, within the limits of it’s little and limited resources. The HANG-OUT was an enterprise that came with the concept and intent of discouraging dependency on Government employment, by encouraging sole proprietorships or microbusinesses, where, even with meagre resources, two or more people can be taken off the saturated labour market, and be turned into employees.
Farouk’s intervention, which was later expanded to the business of furniture making in the Sharada Industrial area of Kano, came compatible with the concept of the now touted Youth Empowerment Policy. As a process where young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives, the youth empowerment project aims for the eradication of poverty, by addressing the employment thirst of the youth, and bringing situations that would improve their access to resources and transform their consciousness, through self beliefs, values, and attitudes. Yes, through the demonstration of the “I CAN DO IT”- self confidence, Farouk Adamu Aliyu had, and seems determined to keep doing it, by continuously engaging in areas of self employment.
My article today, was spurred by a video that is going viral on the social media, depicting Farouk Adamu Aliyu, the energetic politician-cum farmer, show-casing with great zeal, energy and enthusiasm, the exploits of his new pursuit, which he proudly presents as farming. In the video, Farouk is not only proud to be a Nigerian, but a Nigerian that is bent on building the bridge of unity in his country. Through the formation of his farm, which in the video he said is in his native village of Faru, in his hometown of Birnin Kudu, Jigawa state, Farouk is giving a message of hope for Nigeria and Nigerians.
With the pride of a nationalist, that is excited and joyful to identify with his own country Nigeria, through the support of it’s interests, especially those interests that would promote unity, Farouk took time to take the cameras round his Mallam Alu farm, which is engaged in the modern farming of poultry and orchard, along with livestock raising and selective breeding.
Through the practice of modern methods of breeding, farming and care of farm animals, Farouk’s ambition is to bring about a revolution in farming, in a manner that would not only change Nigeria’s food supply chain, but change the narratives with regards the meaning of national unity. Peoples unity would be encouraged, just as that of animals is enhanced. He said, his farm is working towards raising special breeds of cattle, sheep and horses, by engaging people from diverse background, to harness the abundant agricultural resources of his native Birnin Kudu, for the advantage of Jigawa as a state, and Nigeria as a country.
“Suna na Honourable Farouk Adamu Aliyu, dan siyasa kuma manomi”, so he started in hausa, in the video, which has the emblem of the BBC on it. The meaning is, my name is Honourable Farouk Adamu Aliyu, a politician as well as a farmer. He went on to do a very good marketing blitz for both the Mallam Alu farm and the President Muhammadu Buhari Agricultural policy of Nigeria.
Farouk’s Mallam Alu farm of 70 hectares, is equally into the manufacturing of fertilizer. On a 24hour basis, the farm’s fertilizer plant is producing 40 tons per hour, which can translate to 20 trailers per day, he said. Conservatively, the farm provides succor and sustenance to an average of 200 people, who come from far and near.
By this singular act, it is evident that Farouk Adamu Aliyu, is determined to key into the Agricultural policy of the Government, in order to modernize all aspects of agriculture, including distribution, storage, processing and the production of crops and animals. The Buhari administration is anxious in the implementation of proper management and sustainable technologies, that would ensure agriculture can meet with the needs and expectations of the other sectors, towards further grooming of the economy. In Mallam Alu farm, Farouk seems to have answered that clarion call, by expressing a strong commitment with practical evidence of action.
To change the narratives from the old saying of robbing Peter to pay Paul, Farouk said he sited the farm in his hometown as a way of paying back the people, for the support of bringing him up. Impliedly, the politician is combining indigenous patriotism with partisan politics, to reverse the adage into, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.
And he is doing that by hoisting the tallest pole to fly the Nigerian flag in the farm, at a height of 50.3 meters. This is a fantastic fascination with farming, by a focused politician, I think.
And I say kudos, to the Farouk of Birnin Kudu.
