After the death of her husband three years ago, the search for a daily source of income and the choice not to sleep around like a loose dog, prompted Mrs. Stella Iroaja, to join the highly male dominated business- Keke Napep (Tricycle) business.
"Iron Woman", as she is popularly called by her colleagues, said her husband died after a brief illness and since then like some widows, she has been shouldering the responsibility of two undergraduates and a secondary school student, amongst other responsibilities.
She narrated how she worked as a cleaner after leaving the job of supplying bread with motor bike commonly known as okada to raise capital for her present business. She added that, she stopped the bread supply business, when a ban was placed by the state government on the operation of commercial motor bikes on the major streets of Lagos.
Read her story below:
“I am from Imo state, I have been doing this for almost three years. I feel that instead of me to stay idle, I have to find something doing and there is no way government can employ everybody so you have to create job for yourself.
_“I was searching for a job that can fetch me money, so that I can take care of myself, my three children and other responsibilities though my husband’s people are trying their best anyway. I lost my husband about three years ago, he was sick briefly. Instead of me moving around and messing myself around with men, I have to do this in order to take care of my children. Two of my children are in the university and the last one in secondary school, so I do this to take care of them. Instead of me looking around for someone to help me, I use this to manage myself.
“I’m very proud to be the first woman to start riding here in Ikeja, seven women have now joined me after I started, and I opened the door for them. Initially, they felt the work was only meant for the men so, when they saw me, they were like 'so women can do this'. I am not ashamed of what I’m doing.
"Doing this job is challenging though there is no business without its own challenge. You don’t look at challenges so that you can move ahead. If you are looking at challenges, you won’t be able to do things.
_
“The problem I’m having right now is the commercial bus drivers and the way they chase me out of the road, their driving is very rough they don’t fear Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) they only fear Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), when they see them, they start running here and there. It is only them that make me afraid of this job. You see ‘danfo’ drivers moving at the same time to pick passengers they don’t care about the other road users.”
Speaking on her relationship with her colleagues, she said; “I don’t have any problem with my colleagues, I relate with them well. I do what they ask me to do. I park well. I try to do the right thing and pay the levy I’m asked to pay; I spend about 1200 everyday.”
On whether there is any levy that she feels is too much, sh said; “no comment about that.”
On finding time to relax or cook she said that she does not have break as she daily wakes up by 5am, do her morning devotion then after bathe, find something to eat, leave for work then close around 7pm. She however added that she makes sure she finds time to attend church programmes.
As stated by Iroaja, she cooks only on Saturdays and ensure she stores enough food in the fridge to last her and children for the week.
Responding to her style of dressing, she had this to say: “You know I do men’s work where I have to dress smart because I can’t wear skirt or gown to do what I’m doing. I have to behave and dress like them so that people will not take me for granted.
“I love low cut because of the comfort it gives me because I can easily pour water on my head and scrub it unlike when I’m making it, which is why I’m always seen in low cut.”
Considering if she sees herself working as a commercial driver in the coming years, she responded; “You know I’m advancing in age, there will get to a time when I will not be able to continue with this. Then, I have to open a shop so that I will be able to take care of my family.
“But I will like the government to help me; you know this particular keke I ride is not started by key; I have to get something that I will be able to start easily with key.”
Making a plea to the government and good-spirited individuals she expressed; “Instead of you giving me fish, tell me how to catch fish so that I will fish myself. You can help me with the facilities to aid my business. There is the tricycle they call DVS and if they can help me get the one I can start with key instead of pulling the starter every time to start the keke I will be appreciative, as I always feel pain after pulling the manual starter.”