AMINU:FROM NIGERIA TO CHINA

HASHIM AMINU IBRANHIM

2018 GUANGHUA MBA INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

CEO OF AFRORAFT BUSINESS SERVICES

“It still feels like yesterday when I arrived for the first time at Beijing’s stunning Capital international airport, setting foot in a country I had only seen through the iconic movies of Jackie Cheng and Bruce Lee’s action-packed kung-fu movies. Little did I know this would be the starting point for a new chapter in my educational, professional and entrepreneurial development. My name is Hashim Aminu Ibrahim, and this is my story.

仿佛仍是昨天，我第一次到达令人惊叹的北京首都国际机场，踏上这个我仅通过成龙和李小龙的功夫电影所看过的国家。我并不知道，这将成为我的教育、职业和创业发展的崭新起点。我的名字是Hashim Aminu Ibrahim，这是我的故事。”

ONE

Who are you?

I was born on the 31st of August 1996 in Kano state, Nigeria into a family of small scale entrepreneurs, from a young age, I observed with keen interest the various businesses operated by my Mother through the years, and the challenges she has faced while developing them. This early exposure no doubt was a contributing factor to my current drive and passion for entrepreneurship.

Most people who know me today would be surprised that I had a very reserved and introverted personality before coming to China, usually spending my leisure time playing video games, surfing the internet, breaking apart toys for mechanical parts, watching movies, reading books, or playing badminton with my close circle friends. This is in stark contrast to the current extroverted and ultra-sociably inclined personality that I have developed through the 6 years I have been living in China.

你是谁？

1996年8月31日，我出生在尼日利亚卡诺州，我的家庭成员经营着一些小生意。从很小的时候开始，我非常感兴趣地看到了我母亲多年来经营的各种业务，以及她在经营发展中所面临的挑战。这种早期的接触无疑是促成我目前对创业的动力和热情的一个因素。

大多数现在认识我的人都会惊讶于我来中国之前有一个非常保守和内向的个性。那时候的我通常在闲暇时间玩电子游戏，上网，从机械玩具上拆解部件，看电影，看书，或者和小圈子里的朋友们一起打羽毛球。这与我在中国生活6年之后，形成的外向、极具社交倾向的性格形成了鲜明的对比。

TWO

Why did you choose to study in China?

My first exposure to this country was a short visit with my cousin during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the time, China was in the midst of a rapid construction boom and was noticeably transforming into a modern society. The vibrant energy I experienced at the time lead to a quite conscious decision that I’ll make a return in 2013 when I graduated from High school to pursue my undergraduate degree. Upon my arrival, I studied Chinese in Shenyang for a year before subsequently getting admitted to the Beijing Institute of Technology for an undergraduate degree in computer science and technology. I am currently an MBA candidate at the Guanghua school of management at Peking University.

你为什么选择来中国学习？

我第一次来到这个国家是在2008年北京奥运会期间，我和我的堂兄进行了短暂的访问。当时，中国正处于建设热潮之中，并正在显著地向现代社会转型。我体验到的那种充满活力的能量引导我做出了一个非常清醒的决定，2013年，当我从高中毕业去追寻本科学位的时候，我将会回来。再次抵达中国后，我在沈阳学习了一年汉语，随后被北京理工大学录取，获得计算机科学与技术本科学位。现在，我是bat365在线平台网站光华管理学院的MBA学生。

THREE

What inspired your business? What is your vision for your business?

Through the course of my studies, I realized the potential profit in China-Africa cross-border trade, and in offering consulting services to Chinese businesses interested in doing business in Africa as a consequence of China’s Belt and Road initiative. I registered Afroraft business services limited on the 28th of March 2018 in Nigeria and focused my efforts towards building a high-quality network in China. Since incorporation, my startup has successfully worked with both Nigerian/Chinese businesses interested in developing cross border trade. Furthermore, we engage in business development and facilitation efforts for clients.

In the medium term, I plan for Afroraft to expand into providing Agricultural services to Africa’s rural farming communities, by deploying innovative technologies procured from China such as the use of drones for spraying services, site mapping, and disease detection. The rental of mini tractors to farmers, and the provision of logistics and storage services to farmers in remote areas in order to enhance productivity, and capturing of greater value of produce by Africa’s most venerable rural communities.

In the long term, I envision my business moving toward local manufacturing and processing of Agro-allied goods in Nigeria, this long term process will be positively complemented with the experience gained from cross border operations in China, which is slated to become the world’s largest consumer market. The knowledge gained would also prove beneficial in developing the export capability to other African countries. I have a dream of growing Afroraft into one of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates, with an aspiration of being among the major driving forces that played a key role in moving the continent up the production value chain of its natural resources.

是什么启发了你的事业?你对你的企业有什么愿景?

通过我的学习过程，我意识到中非跨境贸易的潜在利润，在中国的“一带一路”倡议下，为在非洲开展业务的中国企业提供咨询服务也将极具潜力。 我于2018年3月28日在尼日利亚注册了Afroraft商业服务有限公司，并致力于在中国建立一个高质量的网络。 自成立以来，我的创业公司已经成功地与有兴趣发展跨境贸易的尼日利亚/中国企业合作。 此外，我们还致力于为客户提供业务开发和便利化服务。

在中期，我计划让Afroraft通过部署从中国采购的创新技术，如使用无人机喷洒服务、现场测绘和疾病检测，向非洲农村农业社区提供农业服务。向农民出租小型拖拉机，向边远地区的农民提供后勤和仓储服务，以提高生产力，促使非洲最古老的农村社区获得更大价值的农产品。

从长远来看，我设想我的业务将转向尼日利亚本地制造和农产品加工，这种长期过程将与中国跨境业务的经验相辅相成，中国将成为世界上最大的消费市场。所获得的知识也有助于发展其他非洲国家的出口能力。我梦想将Afroraft发展成为非洲最大的工业集团之一，并希望成为推动非洲大陆自然资源生产价值链发挥关键作用的主要驱动力之一。

FOUR

What do you consider is the biggest difference between China's market environment and Nigeria? Is there any similarity outside the difference?

Perhaps a major difference between China’s and Nigeria’s market environment lies in the competition landscape and degree of market consolidation. Albeit Nigeria, is the Largest Economy on the African Continent. There are still various sectors of the Economy which are still at their infancy. This presents a major opportunity for first movers to capture significant market share and grow rapidly. On the other hand, Nigeria is fortunate to be similar to China by being blessed with a fast-growing population, with a current population of over 180 Million people making it the largest consumer market in Africa.

您认为中国市场环境与尼日利亚最大的不同是什么?区别之外又有哪些相似之处呢?

也许中国和尼日利亚市场环境的主要区别在于竞争格局和市场整合程度。尽管尼日利亚是非洲大陆上最大的经济体，经济的各个部门仍然处于起步阶段。这为先行者抓住重要的市场份额和快速增长提供了一个重要的机会。另一方面，尼日利亚幸运地与中国相似，人口迅速增长，目前人口已超过1.8亿，使其成为非洲最大的消费市场。

FIVE

Why did you choose the Guanghua MBA?

Having worked and studied in China for over 6 years, I decided to enrol for the MBA program at Guanghua with a goal of leveraging the vast resources available at Peking University and connecting with the universities high-quality network of innovative Alumni from around the world. Furthermore, the Guanghua’s MBA program offers a unique immersion into the various aspects related to doing business in China, and other countries along the New Silk Road. This Unique value proposition in addition to the usual standard business school curriculum is the reason why I chose Guanghua as my destination.

你为什么选择光华MBA?

在中国工作和学习了6年多，我决定报考光华的MBA项目，希望能够利用bat365在线平台网站的巨大资源，与来自世界各地的具有创新精神的校友建立起高质量的联系网络。此外，光华的MBA课程为在中国和新丝绸之路沿线的其他国家开展业务的各个方面提供了独特的体验。除了通常标准的商学院课程，这种独特的价值主张也是我选择光华作为我的目的地的原因。

SIX

Are there any unforgettable stories during your study process in Guanghua?

There have been a lot of unforgettable memories along the way, I have enjoyed every moment I’ve had with my classmates and will continue to value the friendships I’ve forged in Guanghua for the rest of my Life.

你在光华学习期间有什么难忘的故事吗?

一路上有很多难忘的回忆，我享受着和同学们在一起的每一刻，我的一生都将继续珍惜我在光华建立的友谊。

As a student, aka a start-up business owner, how do you balance your study/work/life at the same time while in a strange country?

Having a good team in place, and a family that supports you make all the difference in having a work-life balance. I have been fortunate to have the support of my Father, and of my business associates who work tirelessly to ensure our collective success.

作为一名学生，同时又是一名创业者，你在一个陌生的国家如何平衡学习、工作和生活?

拥有一个良好的团队，一个支持你的家庭，他们在工作和生活的平衡上发挥着至关重要的作用。我很幸运地得到了我父亲和我的商业伙伴的支持，他们不知疲倦地工作，以确保我们的集体成功。

Do you have any specific plan for your future?

In the short term, my primary focus is successfully graduating from the MBA program in 2020, where after I plan on dedicating my full focus on the growth of my company.

你对未来有什么具体的计划吗?

在短期内，我的首要目标是在2020年顺利完成MBA课程的毕业，之后我计划全身心投入到公司的发展中。

SEVEN

Do you have any suggestions for those overseas students who consider to study/work in China?

Personally, coming to China for studies has been one of the decisions I am very glad to have made. Being a part of a culturally diverse student community in PKU creates a unique learning atmosphere, with limitless potentials for the facilitation of new ideas. The curriculum albeit challenging is very interesting to study. Being in China at this period of time instils in me with a great sense of positive certainty about my future, and would strongly encourage anyone who is considering a China-focused to career, to apply to the Guanghua MBA and have faith in that judgment.

你对那些考虑在中国学习/工作的留学生有什么建议吗?

就我个人而言，来中国学习是我做出的最好的决定之一。作为北大多元文化学生群体的一份子，感受并同时参与创造北大独特的学习氛围，为促进新思想提供了无限的潜力。课程虽然具有挑战性，但学习起来很有趣。这段时间在中国，让我对自己的未来充满了积极的肯定。我将强烈鼓励任何考虑以中国为重心发展事业的人，申请光华MBA，并对自己的判断抱有信心。

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