When Adiko Musa obtained a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science, he envisioned a future in the healthcare sector. Like many young graduates, he believed that earning a qualification would open the door to meaningful employment. Instead, he encountered a different reality.
“I remember applying for a job with my certificate. During the interview, they asked me whether I could do the work because of my disability. They overlooked the fact that laboratory work is mainly bench work, where you sit, analyse samples and produce results. They simply told me they would get back to me, but they never did.”
The experience was painful, but it did not define him. Rather than waiting for opportunities that might not come, Adiko turned to shoemaking as a pathway to independence and dignified work.
Over time, his workshop became more than a source of income. It also became a place where he shared his skills with other persons with disabilities, helping them develop livelihoods of their own.
“Some of the participants here learned shoemaking from me.”
By the time he joined the We Can Work Academy and chose the Entrepreneurship Track, Adiko was already an experienced shoemaker. He wanted to build on his technical skills by gaining the knowledge and confidence to strengthen his business.
The Academy introduced him to new ways of thinking about entrepreneurship and business growth.
“The Academy changed the way I think about business. It made me realise that owning a business is important, even if someone has paid employment. One day, every worker will retire. If you establish your business while you are still working, you can continue earning from it long after retirement.”
One lesson that influenced his approach to business was the importance of investing in quality. Previously, Adiko relied on cheaper materials and adhesives to keep costs low. He began to see that using better-quality materials could strengthen his products and build greater trust with customers.
“Before, I used cheaper materials and adhesives. Now I use stronger materials and better-quality gum. I tell customers they can even wear my shoes in water because I trust the quality of my work.”
He says the change in the quality of his products has helped strengthen customer satisfaction and referrals, contributing to more bulk orders and improved business performance. The experience also encouraged him to reinvest in his business and continue supporting others in his community.
Yet Adiko’s journey demonstrates that entrepreneurial success is not only about individual business growth. It can also create opportunities for others.
As the Academy came to an end, Adiko and his fellow participants wanted to maintain the relationships and learning they had built together. They established the Kwali Shoe Collection, an association that has become a practical support system for local shoemakers.
Today, members coordinate the purchase of materials to reduce transportation costs, share technical expertise, refer customers to one another, contribute to group savings, and exchange information about new business and training opportunities.
“We established the association so we can support one another as shoemakers. If someone receives a shoe design they cannot produce, another member helps instead of disappointing the customer.”
For Adiko, this spirit of collaboration reflects what dignified work truly means—not succeeding alone, but creating opportunities for others to succeed alongside you.
His entrepreneurial journey has also strengthened his confidence to respond to negative perceptions about disability. He recalls a customer once saying:
“With only one leg, I’m even doing you a favour by bringing this work.”
Rather than allowing the comment to undermine his confidence, Adiko responded by asserting the value of his skills and the quality of his work.
“I told her she wasn’t doing me a favour. She was helping herself because I have the knowledge and skills to produce quality shoes.”
For Adiko, the experience reinforced the importance of recognising people for what they can contribute rather than making assumptions about what they cannot do.
Today, he no longer measures success solely by the number of shoes he produces. He measures it by the people he mentors, the entrepreneurs he supports, and the community he is helping to build.
Looking ahead, his ambition is to expand his workshop with industrial shoemaking equipment and reliable power so he can take on larger contracts, increase production, and train even more young people with disabilities.
His story is a reminder that dignified work is about more than having a job. It is about having the opportunity to use your talents, make your own choices, contribute to your community, and build a future on your own terms.
“I strongly believe that if more persons with disabilities receive this kind of training, people will begin to see our abilities instead of focusing on our disabilities.”
