From Street Hawker in Freetown to African Entrepreneur Paving the way in China.
Mohamed Lamin Yahffa, founder and CEO of Zulumadingo company a Sierra Leonean company that provides a vast range of products and services. Their services ranges from building materials, furniture, medical equipment, online store, Agriculture and more, talks about his company’s operation, the opportunities and challenges of founding a business, and how his company is helping to provide jobs for African youth.
Born in Kanikay, the eastern part of Freetown, Mohamed Lamin Yahffa is a Sierra Leonean entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and founder of the ZuluMandingo Company, a Sierra Leonean company that provides a vast range of products and services. Their services ranges from building materials, furniture, medical equipment, online store, Agriculture and more.
Growing up in the central part of Freetown, around the Ghetto hood. Mohamed Lamin Yahffa experienced a lot of challenges, the long-decade civil war had a negative impacts on his childhood experience and education, Mohamed lost his father at the age of 3. At a very tender age, Mohamed’s mother took care of him and his sisters. Mohamed use to help his mother during weekends and holidays to hawk in the street of Freetown selling kerosene and foodstuff for him to be able to pay his fees.
Mohamed attended ST Theresa, John F Kenedy and Boxing memorial Primary schools where he did his primary education. He later moved to Albert Academy School where he did his secondary and senior secondary school education. Mohamed later enrolled at the Licsal Business College where he pursued a degree in Finance and later moved to the IPAM University of Sierra Leone where he completed his Bachelors Degree in Applied accounting. Mohamed is a certified Accounting Technician (CAT) and holder of the Institute of Commercial Management. (ICM). In China, Mohamed holds a Bachelor in Trade and Economics and is currently pursuing his masters in textile, designing and entrepreneurship.
Mohamed worked at the bank after graduation for several years and later decided to start-up his own business by establishing the Global Shipping Agency, a logistics and shipping Agency Company in Sierra Leone. Mohamed later moved from Sierra Leone to China to further his education and business venture.
Arriving in China, Mohamed saw a lot of potentials and opportunities that open his eyes to the entrepreneur he is today. “I saw the things that were impossible back home now possible in China and so I wanted to tap into these opportunities, “Mohamed told us during an interview at Salone Messenger Mohamed then taps into the opportunities, and learn new skills and then puts those skills into practice.
We had an exclusive interview with the founder of Zulumadingo Company during our conversation with young change-makers in all works of life. Read below
Sallu Kamuskay
As a company, what would you say is/are your biggest project?
Mohamed Lamin Yahffa
“My company has released its first-ever supporter jersey that will be used in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, I feel this news rebrand our country’s image, I am also currently working on an online store called the Africa First Choice Continental Market which is aimed at promoting direct contacts between African business people and international suppliers by providing useful information on various aspects of the African market. Covering specific trade sectors and commodities, articles and features on AFCCM. It will provide useful insights into the changing demands and needs of the African market – especially from a global perspective. I have also put together a hand-out booklet called 50 most initiative ideas to start up business for young people that teach young people how to start a business from nothing, it captures both my experience and the experiences of other international successful businessmen and women I came in contact within my line of work “
Sallu kamuskay
What are the services you offer as a company and where are your operational areas?
Mohamed Lamin Yahffa
“We are into a clothing line, real estate, Agriculture, online Business, Building materials, furniture with branches in China, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Lesotho, Gambia and Liberia
