Exhibitors hopeful amidst low patronage at Kano Trade Fair

Over 500 corporate and small, medium and large scale businesses are participating in the ongoing 46th Kano International trade fair which was officially declared open by the state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Tuesday.  The striking thing about this year’s fair is the mixed fortunes traders from within and outside the country have been recording. […]

Over 500 corporate and small, medium and large scale businesses are participating in the ongoing 46th Kano International trade fair which was officially declared open by the state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Tuesday.

 The striking thing about this year’s fair is the mixed fortunes traders from within and outside the country have been recording.

While some recorded impressive sales during the opening phase of the fair, others are still hopeful that patronage will pick up in the course of the fair which will remain open till 6th of December.

While Jaiz Bank PLC, Alternative Bank and  Fintech  Momo Payment are some of the financial  institutions present at the fair, MC Plastic and PVC, Dozzy Oil and Gas, AMMASCO, Bello Minerals limited  dealing in solid minerals and Children wears selling outfits are all over the place with Dala foods  leading  the foods and beverages companies at the fair.

 

Goods, services on display

Aphrodisiac sellers are some of the most conspicuous: inside the indoor Pavilion at the trade fair complex, where 20 square metres space cost about N350,000, at least 5 shops- Hajia Yagana Maiduguri Borno, Hajia Hauwa Niger Yan Matan Damagaram, Dr. Sayyada Shugaban Marke, Hajia Maryam Chad and Dr Danfulani Mai Abin Mamaki- offering authentic aphrodisiacs and local SPA popularly known as Kayan Mata have put a strong presence .

Hajia Yagana Maiduguri Borno State, a regular face at the fair, said women use the Kayan Mata to spice up their marital life and keep their husbands away from other women.

Items found in her shop include Turaren wuta (fragrance), Humra, Turaren Mai da gyaran Jiki (sexual enhancing cosmetics),Kayan Amare(Must have for brides).

Yagana believed patronage will pick up in the course of the fair just like she made fortunes last year.

Hajjo Sokoto, another Kayan Mata seller said she paid N100,000 for a space outside the main Pavilion and spent extra N100,000 to erect a temporary shop. Items available for sale in her shop include Turaren Mata, Humra, Tsimi, Gumbar Zuma.

Sokoto said this is her first time coming and she is experiencing low patronage at the moment but she is hopeful things will change as people continue to troop out for the fair.

Habibty Kayan Mata and Traditional SPA is another shop outside the main Pavilion attracting women clients.

A male customer who does want his name in the print said because he is shy he could patronise the women selling aphrodisiacs at the fair since they are strangers to him coming from outside the state. 

School pupils at Dangote group Pavilion: the biggest Pavilion at the fair attracts school pupils who visit the complex with their teachers on a guided tour.

Jamila Nuhu Musa and other officials explained the various strategic business units of the group like Dangote cement, sugar, fertiliser and the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote refinery which will be expanded to 1.4 million barrels per day.

Dangote fertiliser, which has the capacity to produce 900,000 metric tons of polypropylene per day is being expanded to 2.4 million MTPA.

 

Electric bikes

Electric Motorcycles competing with kitchen utensils:  dealers and distributors of electric motorcycles like Salti Moto Electric Bike brought different kinds of motor bikes with prices ranging from N900,000 to N1.9 million naira.

An electric tricycle with a price tag of N2.5 million is also on display.

Saminu Salisu Muhammad one of the managers, said the price was discounted to attract buyers.

Similarly a wide range of electric Bikes were on display at Demaful bikes.

Kitchen items and utensils are also on display in various shops at the fair. For instance at Momie Luxury store, the owner Hafsat Aliyu said patronage was impressive on Tuesday when the fair opened and she is looking forward to increased sales as the fair progresses.

 

Chinese foldable mats excite buyers

A Kano based Chinese company Xinchao Nigeria Industrial limited is attracting visitors to its stand with Mattresses and local foldable mats whose prices start from N3000 to N9000.

Aminu Bashir Dakata, a buyer said he is excited to see a foldable mat that is ideal for use during meal time especially for a family with children.

“These foldable mats attracted me here. I am contemplating buying at wholesale prices to resell after the fair in my area because people will find them cheap and convenient to use,” he said.

Free Eye and dental consultation: Kano state Contributory Health Management Agency KSCHMA, also at the fair, is offering free eye and medical consultation at the fair to familiarise residents with its public and private health insurance schemes in the state.

KSCHIMA was established in 2016 with the mandate to ensure the attachment of universal Health coverage through a credible and sustainable mechanism for pooling resources to finance healthcare services and improve access to quality healthcare provision with financial Risk protection.

The fair was organised by the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) to create opportunities for business owners from across the globe to meet and showcase their products and services to Kano, the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria.

President of the chamber, Ambassador Usman Hassan Darma says KACCIMA is working closely with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to conduct an enlightenment programme and a town hall to educate the Kano business community on the new Tax Reforms.

He said the initiative is part of the chamber’s commitment to ensure that SMEs adapt to reforms “from a position of knowledge rather than uncertainty.”

“Although some of these reforms may initially appear demanding, I believe that with understanding and resilience, their long-term effects will be favourable for national stability, investment confidence and SME growth,” the president said.

“As we officially open the 46th Kano International Trade Fair, I affirm my belief that the future of Kano’s economy rests on innovation,strategic partnerships and the strength of our SMEs.

Vice president of the chamber, Dr Sameera Abubakar who chairs the publicity committee of the fair said exhibitors from 11 foreign countries and many others are participating in this year’s fair.

According to her, countries represented at the fair include China, Turkey, Egypt, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Rwanda.