The name Sahad Stores is a cornerstone of commerce, particularly across northern Nigeria, synonymous with a thriving supermarket chain. Yet, the remarkable journey of the man behind the mega-business, Alhaji Ibrahim Mijinyawa, has often remained untold. In a candid interview on Kaftan TV’s Sirrin Nasarar Kasuwa (The Secret of Market Success), the Kano-born entrepreneur revealed how a meager messenger’s salary and a bicycle paved his way to retail success.

Alhaji Mijinyawa’s early life in the Mandawari area of Kano was one of tenacity. Born after a long period of childlessness for his parents, his upbringing fell to his revered grandmother, Mari Mai Koko, following his parents’ separation.

He missed early formal schooling but, with maturity, self-enrolled in a boarding school, studying alongside younger students. He later sought further knowledge at the formal evening Festival School run by Igbo teachers, a testament to his determination.

The bedrock of what would become Sahad Stores was laid in a messenger’s uniform. “I began my journey as a messenger in a company, earning between £7 and £10 a month,” Mijinyawa recounted. For nine months, he meticulously saved a few pounds using an Antikurya—a discreet, hidden pocket used to secure money, nearly impossible to access without the owner’s knowledge. With his savings, he took a bold leap, leaving the job to venture into selling clothes.

Mijinyawa started small, using his bicycle to hawk goods. He initially focused on a popular fabric for trousers, buying remnants from second-hand vendors and reselling them in markets like Tashar Kuka and Tashar Nasarawa.

His early days were challenging; he recalled going “three days without making a single sale.”

His innovative spirit soon shone through when he built a wooden kiosk—an uncommon structure at the time, typically reserved for vendors selling kunun zaki (a local drink) or lemon juice. His vision was clear: to transform it into a dedicated fabric shop.

The business quickly gained traction, allowing him to move to the busy Kantin Kwari Market near Yan Tebur. When a caretaker chairman, Uba Adamu, mandated a relocation to Kofar Wambai Market, Mijinyawa adapted swiftly. He sold his allocated market stall, reinvesting the proceeds into his kiosk. His strategy was a rigorous mix of retail and wholesale: “I would go out in the morning to retail on my bicycle and return in the evening to sell at my kiosk in Mandawari.”

As his fabric business flourished, Alhaji Mijinyawa became a pioneering importer, traveling to source high-end goods like women’s lace, English wax, and other premium brands. He proudly noted, “At that time, I was the only one in Kano selling such items.”

Alhaji Mijinyawa’s story is a powerful narrative of grassroots entrepreneurship, showing how patience, innovation, and strategic reinvestment—starting from a messenger’s modest savings—can build a household name like Sahad Stores.