Beatrice Odele: I Drive Keke NAPEP as a Woman but I am Content
Sunday Ehigiator
It was a woman that introduced me to the business. She taught me all I needed to know before starting. Eventually, when I got my tricycle, I was taught how to ride it by some male folks in the business. And it has being good ever since then
What inspired you into driving a tricycle? I used to sell foodstuffs before but there was no much gain and the business was not even booming. For years, I sold rice and beans, groundnut oil, frozen foods, and the likes. The problem with it was that, there are too many associations in the business, and you must belong and pay dues to all. By the time you are done paying dues in all the associations, you are left with little profit. One day, I got fed up. That was six years ago. My husband returned home from work and told me he saw a business that he thinks I can do. According to him, he saw a woman driving Keke that he thinks I can do it too. He asked me to go and stay in a certain junction at a certain period of the day to confirm what he told me. So the next day, I did. And indeed I saw the woman and I asked to see her. She granted me audience and then, I told her I want to come into this business that she should put me through. The first question she asked me was that, am I ready? And hope I am no longer bearing children. She said if I was still bearing children I shouldn’t do this job because of my back. I could develop pains. I told her I was ready, and I was no longer bearing children. I have three children and the last born is about 10- years- old now. So it was the woman that introduced me to the business. She taught me all I needed to know before starting. Eventually, when I got my tricycle, I was taught how to ride it by some male folks in the business. And it has being good ever since then.
What are the challenges associated with the business, especially as woman, and how have you been coping?
The major challenge I face is from some abusive and disrespectful passengers. They could be very abusive and temperamental. And being human, I would sometimes react emotionally. They say words that hurts; they would sometimes say to me ‘ witch, it is because you have killed your husband that is why you are suffering like this’. I would most times laugh and wave it off, after all, my husband is hail and healthy. Another challenge is from the task force. We pay too much, even when I don’t do as much trips as those men do, they don’t care, and they give me no preference. Sometimes we fight; I mean manly fights. Because that is how rough and rude they can be, I give them no chance to intimidate me.
Any intimidation or harrassment from the police and your male counterparts?
I don’t have problem with policemen at all. They are very compassionate and understanding, especially female police officers. Once they sight me having arguments with any passenger, they are always at my side. And my colleagues too are very awesome. They support me a lot. They don’t oppress me. They protect me whenever the need arises. They encourage me and always show me care and concern.
What is the average number of trips you make daily?
There is no static number of trips. But I make a minimum of N3000 profit on a daily basis after buying fuel. This is because I own my Keke, so I don’t work under pressure. Aside that, I spend time to take care of my family before leaving home, so I start work around 10am every day and don’t work on Sundays. During week days, I would also suspend work to check on my children at home and sometimes go pick them in school. Since I own my own keke, I am comfortable with whatever I make daily as long as I have time for my family.
What have you achieved with this business?
Asides having time for my family, the business has empowered me to be able to assist my family financially. By God’s grace, from this business, I was able to give support to my husband to build the house we live in some years ago, and I am still supporting in taking care of the financial expenses of the family and many more.
What are your children’s reaction to the job?
My children are sometimes discouraging, especially my first son Emeka. Sometimes he rides in my tricycle without other passengers knowing he is my son. So he often witnesses some of the insults I receive and he would quickly react by attacking the passenger involved for talking to me anyhow. And he would end up asking how I allow people insult me anyhow like this. He often tells me it’s better I quit this job but I always beg for his understanding.
If you are offered a better job, would you quit this?
Seriously, I don’t know yet. My husband would sometimes make ask me if I want to be a Keke rider forever and that I should start thinking of what else I can do. I would always shove it off and ask him to leave me alone. Because, seriously, I don’t think there is any other job that can give me this time I have for my family and other things while I still make money.
How about growing the business to a state where you would have people working for you?
I don’t want to do that also. I don’t have strength for problems. Managing people to work for you in this type of business requires a lot. The people are always not sincere, and they could cause troubles for you. I have seen a lot in this business in the past six years I have being here. I don’t think I would ever venture into that. I am okay with this level I am.
Would you advice other women to come into the sector?
Not at all. This job is not meant for women except you are extraordinarily strong. I sometimes get home very late at night. Sometimes I get home and I break down and become unable to do anything at all. Sundays are my resting days and sometimes I am so tired that I am unable to go anywhere for that day. So it is not the type of job I would advise any woman into it except she can cope.
Do you have anything to task the government on especially in relation to some of the challenges you mentioned earlier?
Yes, I want to beg them to be subtle to women in this business. It is not easy for us to thrive in this business as a woman when we make less and you tax us high as equal with the men that make more and can afford to drive extra trips. In fact, the first woman that started this keke business in this environment couldn’t last six months because of Taskforce. She eventually quit. So, I am begging them to be subtle with us. Let them treat us with a bit of consideration to our gender and our disadvantaged positions.