Personal Story of Sani Abdu Fish Farm Owner:

Sani Abdu was born in 1967 in Birshi village. Married and with thirteen children, he has spent most of his life working as a subsistence farmer in Birshi village. He was barely able to provide enough for his large family until he became involved with Leadership Initiatives’ Business Creation Program.Sani was already a respected community leader, mentor and subsistence farmer, but he had often thought about how he could improve the life of not only his family but that of many other local citizens by creating a fish farming initiative within his community. He unfortunately lacked the resources and business acumen to realize his goal.When Leadership Initiatives came to his community in 2008, Sani pushed to become part of the program and prove that his idea for local fish farming could make nutritious food affordable for his surrounding community. He also knew that his idea could help to alleviate the vitamin deficiencies his children and community members were facing.After months of business management training, refining his idea for a local fish farm, and working to build support among his local community, Sani was given funding for his Fish Farming initiative through Leadership Initiatives. Once funding was provided, Sani, his partners and staff underwent intensive training on how to properly run a fish farm and in early 2009 opened up his community’s first fish farming business.Today, Sani’s fish farm provides employment for twelve individuals and thirty two family members of Sani and his employees. Prior to L.I.’s intervention, sending his children to school was a fading dream. Now, seven of Sani’s children attend school along with 17 of his employees’ children. What was once only a dream has become a reality, inspiring hope and paving the way for new goals for his entire community.