LocationsTurning Opportunity into Stability: How UNDP Livelihood Support Is Restoring Hope: Umar’s Story
January 20, 2026
Umar Garba, a 47-year-old father of eight whose passion for tailoring has defined much of his life.
In Nigeria, resilience is a way of life. Across the country, people adapt, hustle and keep pushing forward, even when the odds are stacked against them. When livelihoods falter, it is rarely because of a lack of effort or ambition. More often, it is the absence of opportunity, resources, or the right kind of support. And sometimes, all it takes is one timely intervention to turn hardship into a story of resilience, entrepreneurship and renewed hope.
Across Northwest Nigeria, individuals are doing just that. Through the Prevention Facility Project, many are transforming long-standing struggles into stories of dignity, growth and purpose. With the right tools and guidance, lives once shaped by uncertainty are being rewritten, inspiring not only individuals but entire communities.
One such story is that of Umar Garba, a 47-year-old father of eight whose passion for tailoring has defined much of his life. For years, Umar made clothes for people in his community, relying on a sewing machine he had used for decades. Over time, the machine wore down and so did his livelihood. As its condition worsened, Umar’s productivity dropped. He could take on fewer jobs, missed deadlines and gradually began losing customers.
“Sometimes I had to go to a friend’s shop to use his machine,” Umar recalls. “If he wasn’t around, I couldn’t work at all. I lost many customers because I couldn’tmeet up. I know I’m a good fashion designer, but without the right tools, I struggled.”
For years, Umar made clothes for people in his community, relying on a sewing machine he had used for decades.
Umar’s love for fashion started early, inspired by his mother, who was also a tailor.
“I remember watching my mother sew, take measurements, cut fabric, and create beautiful clothes. From then, I fell in love with fashion designing. I always dreamed of owning my own machine, having my own shop, and training young people,” he shares.
He worked hard to perfect his skills, spending years as an apprentice under his master. After gaining confidence in his craft, Umar saved up and bought a second-hand sewing machine to start working from home.
“That machine helped me take care of my family, even though the profit was small,” he explains. “As my responsibilities increased, I knew I had to improve. Then things got worse. The machine finally broke down completely.”
With no alternative, Umar depended on borrowing his friend’s machine, a situation that quickly became unsustainable.
“I was desperate. I needed my own machine to keep providing for my family. Relying on my friend’s machine to sew for my clients was costing me time, customers, and resources, it just wasn’t sustainable. I was frustrated and tired of constantly depending on him,” he lamented.
His turning point came when he was selected as a beneficiary of the Northwest Prevention Facility Project’s Livelihood Support Initiative, designed to empower artisans and young people with vocational skills, tools and business support.
“I was fortunate enough to be selected as a beneficiary and I was given training and also a grant of three hundred thousand (300,000), immediately I already knew what I wanted to do with that money, I quickly got myself a very good machine and rented a small shop, it felt like my life restarted, my work improved instantly, customers returned and new ones started coming” Umar says with a smile.
Umar’s love for fashion started early, inspired by his mother, who was also a tailor.
“I was fortunate enough to be selected as a beneficiary and I was given training and also a grant of three hundred thousand (300,000), immediately I already knew what I wanted to do with that money, I quickly got myself a very good machine and rented a small shop, it felt like my life restarted, my work improved instantly, customers returned and new ones started coming” Umar says with a smile.
With better equipment and a dedicated workspace, Umar’s productivity increased, his income stabilized and his confidence returned. Today, he comfortably supports his family and has taken on apprentices from his community.
“Now I train young people who want to learn tailoring. My dream is finally coming true. I’m providing for my family, passing skills to others, and building something that will last. The amazing part is that I’ve even been able to save up, repair my old machine, and train my wife as well. I want her to specialize in female outfits while I focus on male designs, that way, we can build a system that supports our family and grows with our community,” Umar says proudly.
Today, Umar is more than a tailor. He is a provider, a mentor and a source of inspiration. His journey reflects the core aim of the Prevention Facility Project: restoring livelihoods, strengthening resilience and creating sustainable pathways to stability across Northwest Nigeria.
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