By: Hamman Abdulkareem
When many young people chase white-collar jobs, Shu’aibu Muhammad chose a different path. For nearly two decades, the Rijiyar Zaki-based cobbler has repaired worn-out shoes, trained apprentices and built lasting relationships with customers, proving that vocational skills remain a powerful tool against poverty despite Nigeria’s harsh economy.
On a narrow street opposite the old police station in Rijiyar Zaki, Kano, sits a modest roadside workshop where every worn-out sandal and damaged shoe tells a story.
Inside the tiny shop is Shu’aibu Muhammad, a quiet and humble cobbler whose hands have restored thousands of pairs of shoes over the past 18 years.
The workshop is small. His equipment is old and largely outdated. Yet every day customers continue to visit him—not only because of the quality of his work but because of the trust he has earned over nearly two decades.
“I thank Almighty Allah for bringing me into this profession,” he says with satisfaction.
For Shu’aibu, shoe repair is far more than a means of livelihood. It is a profession that rescued him from idleness and gave him dignity.
A Lesson from His Qur’anic Teacher
Shu’aibu’s journey began while attending a Qur’anic school in Rijiyar Zaki.
Rather than allowing older pupils to beg on the streets, his teacher, the late Sheikh Ibrahim Rijiyar Zaki, encouraged them to learn practical trades.
The teacher would provide financial support for interested students to purchase basic working tools and begin vocational training.
“I developed interest in shoe repair because I loved the work,” Shu’aibu recalls.
His first lessons came under a craftsman known as Ali, who taught him basic stitching and glue work before another master craftsman trained him in professional shoe making and advanced repairs.
Those early lessons laid the foundation for a career that has now lasted almost two decades.
Building a Business One Shoe at a Time
Today, Shu’aibu repairs between ten and fifteen pairs of shoes on a good day.
Most customers bring sandals, although he also produces new handmade sandals of different designs.
His working hours are long.
Depending on his health and workload, he often opens around 8:00 or 10:00 in the morning and sometimes remains at work until 9:00 or even 10:00 at night.
Despite the long hours, he says he has never considered abandoning the trade.
“This is the profession I know. It is the work I understand and I am proud of it.”
Economic Hardship Hits Local Artisans
Like many small business owners, Shu’aibu says Nigeria’s rising inflation has severely affected his business.
He remembers when ₦20,000 could purchase enough materials to keep his workshop running for an extended period.
Today, even ₦100,000 buys only a fraction of what artisans previously obtained.
“The cost of materials has increased tremendously,” he explains.
Another challenge comes from customers who leave their shoes for repair but fail to return for weeks or even months, forcing artisans to keep completed jobs that occupy valuable workshop space.
Imported Shoes Changing the Market
Shu’aibu also believes the growing popularity of imported rubber footwear has reduced demand for locally produced shoes.
According to him, many people now prefer inexpensive imported footwear because they are durable, waterproof and require little maintenance.
As a result, traditional cobblers receive fewer orders for newly made shoes and rely increasingly on repair work.
Trust Is His Greatest Asset
While machinery and materials are important, Shu’aibu believes the most valuable asset in his business is trust.
Many of his customers have remained loyal for years.
Some have relocated to other parts of Kano, including Yankaba, Hotoro, Kabuga and Sharada, yet they still return to him whenever their shoes need repair.
Others recommend him to friends and relatives.
“My customers appreciate my work, and I appreciate them too,” he says.
That mutual respect has helped sustain his business through difficult economic times.
Passing the Skill to Others
Beyond earning a living, Shu’aibu has invested in the next generation.
He has successfully trained three apprentices who now operate independently as cobblers.
Another trainee showed great promise before his untimely death.
However, he admits many young people abandon apprenticeship after only a few days because they expect quick money.
“They want immediate income without learning the skill properly,” he says.
A Message to Nigerian Youth
Shu’aibu believes many unemployed youths wrongly look down on vocational skills.
He argues that every honest trade deserves respect.
“No profession is too small,” he says.
“If you dedicate yourself to learning a skill, it will provide for you.”
He advises students to combine education with vocational training because paid employment is becoming increasingly difficult to secure.
According to him, learning a trade offers both independence and protection from social problems such as idleness and drug abuse.
Appeal to Government
If given the opportunity to meet President Bola Tinubu or Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Shu’aibu says his request would be simple.
He would ask government to support small-scale artisans with modern equipment, working tools and financial assistance.
According to him, empowering artisans does not only improve individual lives but also creates employment opportunities for many others.
“Helping one artisan means helping many families,” he says.
A Story Beyond Shoes
Although his workshop remains modest and his tools are old, Shu’aibu Muhammad’s story reflects something much larger than shoe repair.
It is the story of resilience, honest labour and the quiet dignity of skilled artisans who continue to serve their communities despite economic hardship.
For nearly eighteen years, he has demonstrated that success is not always measured by the size of a workshop but by the integrity of the person working inside it.
As Nigeria searches for solutions to unemployment, stories like Shu’aibu’s remind us that vocational skills remain one of the country’s strongest yet often overlooked engines of economic empowerment.
An Appeal for Support for Kano Cobbler Shu’aibu Muhammad
For almost two decades, Shu’aibu Muhammad has quietly earned an honest living repairing shoes in Rijiyar Zaki, Kano State. He is not a wealthy businessman, nor does he own a modern workshop. What he possesses is something many people admire but few maintain for so long—integrity, contentment and dedication to honest labour.
During this interview, Shu’aibu spoke without bitterness. He expressed gratitude to Allah for giving him a skill that has fed his family, trained apprentices and kept him away from begging. He never asked for charity. Instead, he repeatedly spoke about hard work, dignity and encouraging young people to learn vocational skills.
However, spending time in his workshop revealed another side of the story.
His workshop is very small and in poor condition. Most of the equipment he depends on every day is old and outdated. Some of his tools have served him for many years and desperately need replacement. The rising cost of leather, glue and other materials has made it increasingly difficult for him to expand his business, even though he continues to enjoy the trust and patronage of loyal customers.
Despite these challenges, customers continue to bring their shoes to him because they know they will receive quality workmanship and honest treatment. Many have remained his customers for years, with some travelling from different parts of Kano simply because they trust him.
Having known Shu’aibu Muhammad for the past four to five years, I can personally testify that he is hardworking, humble, disciplined and committed to his profession. His story is not merely about repairing shoes—it is about preserving dignity through honest labour in difficult economic times.
His greatest dream is not luxury. He simply hopes to acquire better working equipment, improve his workshop and expand his business so that he can serve more customers and train more young people.
There is little doubt that with modern tools, improved machinery and a better workspace, Shu’aibu could increase his productivity, employ more apprentices and improve the quality of life for his family.
Individuals, philanthropists, corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and government agencies that support artisans and small businesses may find his story worthy of attention. A modest investment in his workshop could make a significant difference in the life of a man who has already dedicated eighteen years to honest work and community service.
Those who may wish to visit, encourage or support him can find him at:
Workshop Address:
Opposite the Old Police Station, Ubale Custom Line, Magaji Mahmoud Street, beside Nasiha Provision Store, Rijiyar Zaki, Kano State.
Residence:
Dan Mangwaro Area, Rijiyar Zaki, Kano State.
Telephone:
+234813 399 1144
Sometimes, changing a person’s life does not require millions of naira. Sometimes, it begins with helping an honest craftsman replace worn-out tools so that he can continue doing what he has done faithfully for nearly two decades—serving people with dignity, one repaired shoe at a time.
Hamman Abdulkareem
www.hammanmedia.com.ng
Publisher
Hamman Media
