Courage Is What Helps Me – Adamu

BACKGROUND

My name is Hannatu Bashir Adamu. My Pen name is  ROAP (Rambles of A Peacock) I am the first of six children  bore by my parents ( Four boys and  two girls).

EDUCATION

I started my early education at Bennie International School, Kano  State from 1997-2000, then Spring Nursery and Primary School, Kano,  from 2000-2006. I graduated from Capital Science Academy, Kuje, Abuja as a social science student and the overall best graduating student In English Literature 2009/10. I proceeded to American University Of Nigeria, Yola in the Fall of 2010, where I graduated with a BA  in International and Comparative Studies (ICP) in 2014. I was initially an English Major but later switched to ICP. I immediately enrolled into BAZE university Abuja where I started a second degree in law but unfortunately dropped out.

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I took some time off education after my NYSC but as the book worm that  I am, I couldn’t stay away from education for long. I engaged myself with online education and successfully completed some interesting courses , where I obtained a Certificate in Diplomacy in the Modern World offered by University of London and School of African Studies, 2017.

I put a pause on my online studies and proceeded to Lagos Business School (LBS) and participated in the Agribusiness Management Programme (2017-2018) which was motivated and encouraged by my mentor and father . I also enrolled for  the Northwest Entrepreneurship Development Programme in collaboration with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) I took earlier that year in March. However, the switch in line of studies is as a result of my interest in Agribusiness.

I pursued and obtained a Masters degree in International Studies and Diplomacy (MISD) from Bayero University Kano (2018-2020). In the same year, I started taking a Five course creative writing specialisation course from Wesleyan University to hone my writing skills and I successfully earned a certificate in 2022. I am currently taking a course on Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behaviour offered by University of London and School of African Studies (SOAS).  And I am just getting warmed up!

CAREER

I can’t specifically say the age at which I started writing — I would recopy stories that intrigue my curiosity. The reading culture imbibed in me by my father encouraged my love for writing — and luckily for me, my parents supported my dream of wanting to become a successful writer. After overcoming my fear of not achieving my writing ambition due to what the writing scene is like for northern women, I finally published a book in 2021, titled: “Poison In My Honey,” a collection of short poetry and short motivation prose that has themes of mental health.

The attempt of the muslim woman to meet unrealistic expectations, the loss of identity and individualism, colorism, purpose, gender roles and responsibilities, and the painful transition to growth. I am currently working on a collection of short stories and play with themes of identity/individualism, the notion of a woman — the muslim woman in particular, girl/child, Juvenile delinquency, the marriage institution and the society at large.

I have always been passionate about entrepreneurship from age six. I mean, coming from a lineage of phenomenal business women and men, it is not surprising I happily chose to walk in that path — but I decided to make mine dynamic and interesting.

Although writing is my priority, I find entrepreneurship rewarding. Currently, my energy is channeled towards my writing, Agribusiness and the beauty Industry. I founded Gourmet in 2020, a food processing and honey production company that is aimed at producing healthy foods. I believe every woman is a damsel and should be pampered as such but in a healthy way. It is on this basis I founded Mane.iac Luxury in 2015, a natural hair and skin care brand aimed at producing ethical beauty products with ingredients sourced from various parts of Africa and the world. Each product at Mane.iac Luxury tells the story of diverse cultures.  I am also a self taught graphic designer and brand strategist.

HOW IT STARTED

They say we are all born with talents, a sort of natural gift from the divine, well my birth gift is the pen. Writing has always been something I’m naturally passionate about — it just comes easy.  As I said earlier, I cannot exactly tell when I started, but I started very early. It has always been a talent my parents nurtured and I am glad they did. I used to hate my now preferred medium of communication which is poetry back in primary school because to be very honest the teachers took away the joy from it, I didn’t experience the love of poetry and storytelling till I went to secondary school and the teachers who taught me did so with so much life. It was there and then I realised I

could actually impact people with my pen and I could also capture people’s emotions and the ups and downs of my surrounding environment with my pen. The finding was like stumbling upon the fountain of youth and eternity — hitting the jackpot.  It was exhilarating to find out that you could cover for what you thought was a personality deficiency with something of greater value — I realised I was never voiceless, the pen has always been my voice — I just didn’t know. Now I prefer to communicate in fiction storytelling and plays — I dabble occasionally with poetry as it is not for everybody.

I am a serial entrepreneur and I could date the start of my entrepreneurial journey to when I was six. Growing up in a business oriented family, it is only natural that trade is embedded in my DNA. I watched my mother successfully do various trades from poultry to juice and selling ankara, lace, shoes, jewelry and children’s clothing. It is the same story with my maternal grandmother Inna, she sold grocery items and baby clothing and was supported by her husband. My paternal grandmother “Gwaggo” was also a business woman — she came from a long line of successful female entrepreneurs. I learnt the art of Incense and perfumery from Gwaggo. Seeing my mother run her business was refreshing, I was always around her and she always explains things while at work and would often ask for my opinion which makes me feel so important — being surrounded by these phenomenal women paved the entrepreneurial path.

The women in my life have shaped my focus and perspective in life. Their handwork and resilience in the face of adversity has impacted my way of life and writing style. It is not easy for the muslim  Arewa woman to stand tall and strong but Alhamdulillah I have amazing role models whose footprints have guided me incredibly which is vividly portrayed in my art.

At a young age, I would use resources I find in the kitchen with the permission of my mother of course and make iced baobab juice. I would tell my friends at Islamic school and neighbouring kids that we sell “Kwalba” in my house and that it is very nice — I say this while having one iced baobab. And then there is my love for beauty which I turned into a business.

All I’ve done is turn my passion(s) into income and come rain or sunshine, they are things I cherish doing even under dire circumstances. The love I have for them softens the challenges that come with the downside of running and juggling multiple businesses. I make sure I learn from my mistakes and try to enjoy the good, bad and the ugly aspects of entrepreneurship.