By Mustapha Salisu
Bilal Abubakar, an 18-year-old fresh secondary school graduate and aspiring entrepreneur, has discovered solace in fish farming as a means to keep himself engaged before securing admission into a higher institution.
Rearing the catfish breed, Bilal aims to have his fish ready for consumption and selling to potential customers within a month.
Speaking with PRIME TIME NEWS, Bilal shared his fish farming journey. He revealed that he started fish farming eight months ago after being inspired by a close friend who was already involved in the business.
“My mother financed me with the startup capital to venture into fish farming after my first attempt failed,”
“In the beginning, I started with 150 fish, but unfortunately, they all died due to being cheated at the market where I bought them”Bilal explained.
Undeterred by the setback, Bilal’s mother supported him once again, providing him with the funds to acquire another batch of 200 fish. This served as motivation after his initial failure.
When asked about his target market for selling his catfish next month, Bilal shared that he conducted a market survey and discovered that prices were not fixed. Instead, marketers determined the price based on their personal satisfaction.
“I am yet to identify a specific market, but I have started raising awareness door-to-door to inform my neighbors and close associates about my upcoming business. I have learned that door-to-door selling is more profitable than selling in larger markets,” Bilal disclosed.
Bilal’s Catfish inside a pond and almost ready for consumption and marketing.
Regarding his sustainability plan, considering he has not started selling to potential customers yet, Bilal attributed his mother as the backbone of his fish farming venture.
“She has been supporting the financial needs of the fish, including feeding and medical expenses, since he invested ₦22,000 in startup capital eight months ago” he revealed.
The teenager emphasized that fish farming is a technical endeavor that requires knowledge of proper care.
“For instance, serving them food requires precise measurement. If the food is not properly measured, it can be fatal to them,” Bilal explained.
He also recalled an incident when his mother overfed the fish, resulting in the death of over 50 of them.
Despite the success he has achieved in his fish farming venture, Bilal faces some challenges.
One notable challenge is the limited fish ponds available for rearing the fish. With their increasing numbers, the pond space becomes crowded, leading to quicker water contamination.
Another challenge is the issue of electricity. “The frequent power outages we experience these days cause concern, especially when I need to change their water and there isn’t enough water available for recycling,” Bilal noted.
Bilal, however, urged the government and philanthropists to recognize and support teenagers like him who have entrepreneurial zeal. He believes that instead of allowing youths to engage in drug abuse, phone snatching, robbery, and other vices, the government and philanthropists should implement programs that engage idle minds in society with productive activities. This, he believes, would significantly reduce crime rates, as youths are often the major perpetrators.
PRIME TIME NEWS reports Bilal’s determination and dedication to fish farming serve as an inspiring example for other teenagers looking for productive and fulfilling pursuits while awaiting further education. With the right support and opportunities, young entrepreneurs like Bilal can contribute to the economic growth and well-being of their communities.
