Sokoto electrician who travels across West Africa for car programming

Yaseer Alhassan is a 35-year-old electrician in Sokoto. He started his apprenticeship in 2003 when he was 14. He travels across West Africa for car programming. Until now he enrolled to study electrical engineering at the Umaru Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto, he is a secondary school certificate holder.

Determined to excel in the job, he has had to switch between electrical and mechanical apprenticeship and has grown to become a sought-after electrician who fixes electrical faults in auto gearboxes of all sorts of automobiles. Alhassan’s clients cut across some West African countries to which he is invited to fix auto gearboxes or programme car brainboxes.

“In 2003, I embarked on this journey under my boss, Abdulhakim under whom I had my apprenticeship as an electrician. Then, I moved to Yusuf Karami who taught me the rudiments of gearbox repairs. I learned the job diligently and with full concentration it deserved,” Yaseer Alhassan told ASHENEWS while narrating his journey to the fame he has found in his career.

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With only a secondary school certification, Alhassan has excelled in the business and become a hotcake with an average of 50 clients who queue daily to get his services. His dual knowledge of the mechanical and electrical aspects of auto gearbox repairs has placed him well above all other such service providers.

“I was initially determined to perfect my skills in this field. Today, I can, sometimes using any equipment, diagnose car gear problems and discover gears ‘functionalities’.”

Similarly, Yaseer Alhassan took advantage of the introduction of technology for car repairs in Nigeria, to learn the application of this technology used in programming brainboxes. This he did without any form of guidance from any mentor.

“I don’t have anybody that puts me through on this path. I was observing the nature of problems people were encountering with their cars, especially the hybrid cars and I decided to concentrate on identifying those electrical or mechanical problems and finding solutions to them, without consulting my boss,” Alhassan told ASHENEWS.

Responding to a question about things he is doing differently that amplifies his name throughout Sokoto and other West African countries, including Mali, Niger, Benin, Senegal, and Chad, he said, “Part of the big things we are doing is bringing back hybrid cars alive. This is a type of car that the majority of mechanics and electricians find complicated. But through God’s wisdom, we repair all types of cars with ease. There is a new Nissan electric car that was brought to me from Lagos and I was able to successfully work it out.”

Yaseer Alhassan is an explorer who freely roams these countries on invitation to proffer solutions to modern automobiles, most often on car programming. He attributes his exposure to travel. “I think I can attribute my exposure to traveling. Traveling is one of the things that enables me to understand fully the anatomy of the works. When I was young, I traveled to places like Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna just to add more to my knowledge. After my independence, I expanded it internationally, mostly on a contract basis”.

Looking into the future, he envisions himself as an international businessman in electronics and car programming. This, he said, is fueled by the shortage of technologies in his industry, he expresses a dual desire—to expand his knowledge and contribute to technological advancements.

“In the future, I want to see myself as an international businessman in the area of electronics and car programming. This is because we are facing a shortage of modern technologies that can facilitate our work. Secondly, I want to go and expand my knowledge.”

Confirming the engineer’s proficiency to ASHENEWS in a telephone interview, Dr. Bala Daga, Alhassan’s client, said, “His skill is just unmatched. What thrills me more about him is his attention and dedication to solving automotive issues, specifically gearbox and programming.”

Drawing inspiration from the internet, he states, “Everything now can be found on the internet, the internet is the place where I get inspired, and it has made things easy for me.” This vast resource facilitated his journey, especially when such cars were scarce in Nigeria.

Replying to what challenges him, the engineer mentioned the multinational automotive company, General Motors (GM), which produces vehicles under various brands like Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and others.

“These classes of cars have been our problem because CODES are always required to programme them. The conducive workshop is also one of our challenges,” he added.

In addressing the main challenges, he considers collaborating with the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, who is an automotive designer and indigene of Sokoto state. Aliyu is the chief designer of the Chevrolet Volt. Alhassan says he has been working closely with Aliyu to secure the devices needed to overcome the obstacle.

“We are working on the problem. I am always collaborating with Jelani Aliyu. Anytime he comes to Sokoto, we make contact regarding the solution, and he refers clients to me. So, we are working closely to secure the devices that can enable us to conquer problems of repairing automobiles from General Motors,” the engineer said.

On the competition landscape, Alhassan says, “Respect is bought by oneself.” He underscores the importance of sharing knowledge, a principle he believes will ensure continued regard among peers.

He appealed for governments’ support and emphasized on the need to sensitize and introduce youths to his specialty, envisioning it as a solution to idle living among the younger generation.

To fellow engineers, he emphasized the importance of taking the work seriously, valuing it, and prioritizing knowledge over money. For him, the success of their craft lies in the machines at their disposal, which is a collective journey toward excellence.

“My advice to my fellow engineers is they should take this work seriously and as well value it. They should not prioritize money but materials because the success of this work lies on the machines at one’s disposal,” he advised.