A Popular and Famous Lady
Jamila Jennifer Abubakar’s parents’ have plenty to be proud of. Their daughter’s knowledge of flowers is unsurpassed in her region. She is only 19 years old, but her green-fingered capabilities have awarded her local notoriety in the small coastal village where she was raised. Jamila has adored gardening since she was eight and she consumed every book she could get her hands on. She turned her hobby into a profitable business after leaving school. Her mixed-raced parents—mother Annette, from England and her father Ogande, from the village–bought her a van, enabling her to transport and buy stock. Her business has grown to accommodate farther areas away from the village. Jamila also contributes ten per cent of her profits to charity each month.
Annette, said of her daughter, “Since she could read she would consume gardening books by the cartload. She learned about planting in season and she learned about the best soil and compost before she was even ten years old. She had her own vegetable garden too, but it was really flowers and plants that held her interest. Jamila now has her own business and she employs a local girl to help her.”
Jamila’s father—who was born in the small village—said “I am most proud of my daughter. She has an enterprising nature and she has already employed a young girl, who helps to bring money to her poor family. She is an example to all young people that they can achieve anything they put their minds to.”
A new local project, spear-headed by Jamila herself will begin in the spring. She came up with the idea to encourage enthusiasm in younger children. She aims to help them to learn about planting and growing their own produce, from fruit and vegetables to flowers and plants.