Leaders who make food affordable show true commitment to the well-being of the people — Umar Muhammad
Story by Maryam Saleh Isa
Umar Muhammad Nadeba was born in 1956 and raised in Potiskum local government area of Yobe State, where he grew up within a community shaped by strong values and mutual respect. A devoted family man, he is blessed with two male children, whom he raised with discipline and responsibility. In an exclusive and insightful interview with Neptune Prime correspondent, he spoke about his youthful years, Nigerian leadership and economic realities.
Neptune: Can you tell me about your childhood and what life was like when you were growing up?
Umar: My happiest memories were my youthful days—being handsome and admired, and having people, especially admirers, around me all the time.
Food Prices drop in Babangida Market, Suleja, Niger State
Neptune: Were there any challenges you faced as a young person that shaped the way you see life today?
Umar: There were no serious challenges during my childhood. Life was smooth and comfortable then.
Neptune: What advice would you give young people about handling failure or disappointment?
Umar: Failure is embarrassing—we experienced it in our youthful days. But it is not the end; it is a call to action and readjustment. When failure comes, pray consistently, stay focused on your business or work, and do not lose direction.
Food Prices drop in Babangida Market, Suleja, Niger State
Neptune: If you could go back to your youth, what is one thing you would do differently?
Umar: I would go back to school and prioritise education before anything else. I regret not using my youthful years to acquire knowledge. Now I desire education, but it feels late, as retention and memorisation are no longer easy for me.
Neptune: What values or principles do you think every young person should live by?
Umar: Young people should engage in business that can sustain them. They should not roam the streets idly. Whatever they choose, they must strive to do something meaningful that puts food on their table and enables them to support their parents.
Neptune: In your lifetime, what kind of leaders have inspired you the most, and why?
Umar: I admire leaders who ensure that farming inputs and machinery are affordable, and that farm produce is accessible to the masses. Leaders who make food affordable truly care for the people.
Neptune: What qualities do you believe good leaders should have to guide society?
Umar: Empathy,
Leaders must be empathetic to their followers and create favourable policies. Food prices should not be unbearable for the masses. Policies should create a conducive environment for people to thrive, not become a burden or a graveyard for survival.
Neptune: How do today’s leaders differ from those of your time?
Umar: Leaders in the past were more humane and invested heavily in agriculture to ensure food security and affordability. They were people-centred leaders. Today, many leaders are self-centred, prioritising themselves over the poor.
Neptune: How do you spend your time now, and what keeps you happy in old age?
Umar : I stay with my family. I take my breakfast, apply my eye-drop dose around noon, wait for the Asr prayer time, and then spend time outside calmly. I enjoy being involved in business—it gives me confidence, self-worth, and a sense of independence.
Neptune: What life lessons have you learned that you wish more people understood?
Umar: One important lesson I learned is from laundry business. My love for cleanliness and good dressing turned into a source of livelihood. People should turn their passion into business.
Neptune: How would you like to be remembered by your family and community?
Umar: I want them to remember me as someone who struggled and worked hard to provide food. I also want to be remembered as a once fashionable and handsome person who later became unkempt—not by choice, but due to the unstable nature of life.
Neptune: What message would you leave for future generations?
Umar: I pray that Allah grants us good health and admits our parents into Paradise. I urge the younger generation to be prayerful for their parents, because parental sacrifice is unmatched in life.
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