NEWS
Women Breaking Poverty Circle Through Tricycle Business in Ilorin
In the bustling streets of Ilorin, where the sun beats down and the drum of life reverberates in every corner, there emerges a trailblazer unlike any other in the town. She is Risikat Adisa, a 54-year-old mother of four with a spirit as fierce as the wind that swept through the city.
Back in 2011, Risikat made a bold decision that would change not only her own life but also set a new path for women in her community.
She climbed onto a tricycle, known to all as Keke NAPEP, and ventured into the realm of commercial riding – a domain exclusive to men.With each turn of the wheel, she becomes not just a driver but a beacon of empowerment and resilience. As she navigates the chaotic streets, her presence became a revelation.
In a conservative Muslim dominated city, Risikat defied stereotypes and expectations. These humble beginnings have grown into a symbol of hope for women seeking to break free from the shackles of poverty.
Risikat became more than a driver, but a model, showing others that gender should never be a barrier to chasing one’s dreams. Popularly known as First Lady among her colleagues, Risikat said she started riding a tricycle when she was 43, to support her husband, a printer, in making provisions for the family.
“I discovered that if you want to succeed as a woman and you want to train your children to the level you want in Nigeria today, you cannot rely alone on your husband’s provision.
“That is what made me have a second thought on what I can do to support my husband and I decided to give riding tricycle a trial,” she said.
In Nigeria, women constitute over 60 per cent of the poorest people; and going by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) statistics, Nigeria has over 87 million people in extreme poverty. This, obviously, translates to approximately 52 million women in the clutches of extreme poverty.
Due to the rising level of poverty among women in Nigeria, the gender referred to as the ‘weaker sex’ have, apparently, decided to take the bull by the horn to do all kinds of jobs, as long as it is legal.
Being the pioneering woman in her field, Risikat operates on the Gaa-Akanbi-Agbabiaka-Danialu route, where she defied odds and persevered with the backing of her husband, in spite of facing disparaging comments from friends and even some family members.
While initially wavering due to external pressure and opinions, Risikat’s husband contemplated halting her tricycle riding venture. However, on recognising the significant contributions she made to the family through the transport business, he chose to support her endeavours.
Commencing her journey with a tricycle acquired through hire purchase, Risikat has since flourished in the business, progressing to the point of purchasing her own tricycle. She has extended her success by entrusting her tricycle to another individual for daily operation, showcasing her evolution from a newcomer to a facilitator of opportunities within the transport sector.
Reflecting on her accomplishments, the female transporter highlights how her four children are now able to attend school with the earnings from her business. In addition to this, she manages a store, selling provisions and beverages, to supplement her income and sustain herself during her 13-year tenure in the tricycle industry.
In spite of the marginalisation and occasional insults from passengers, Risikat remained undaunted. She draws strength from her unwavering focus and determination, emphasising that she refuses to be swayed as she has set her sights on her goals.
She, however, commended her male counterparts for the support given to her as they do not allow any form of intimidation to be her stumbling block. Nonetheless, she noted the prevailing economic downturn was posing a serious challenge as there is little or nothing to go home with after buying fuel and eating.
”Riding of tricycle used to be profitable compared to what is obtainable now. In the first five years that I started, I went home with almost 10,000 Naira daily after my contributions in three different places.
”But now after all deductions, it is difficult to go home with 3,000 Naira which is not encouraging. I now ride tricycle for leisure and as a means of transportation for myself and not strictly for commercial purposes like before,” she said.
Risikat, however, is no longer the only woman in the transport subsector, Mrs Veronica Olawoye, an holder of a National Diploma in Food Technology from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, also rides tricycle to earn a living.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Veronica said she went into tricycle riding to support her husband when the foodstuff business, she previously engaged in, was no longer profitable.
The 41-year-old mother of two realises she needs not to wait for her husband to receive salary before food is put on the table for the children.
”I do not see it as a shameful act because I do not have to wait for him (her husband) to provide before doing what I need to do for myself and my children.
”Whenever his salary is delayed, we move on as a family as if nothing happened, so my job gives him rest of mind,” said the woman tricycle rider.
For someone that started riding in 2022, just like the ‘First Lady’, she also witnessed stigmatisation especially from the male folks with Ilorin being an Islamic town whose belief lies in the fact that a woman shouldn’t be found in some places.
Veronica had encountered a situation where passengers unboarded from her tricycle on sighting the rider was a woman. A man even went as far as reciting an Arabic phrase of ‘Ahuzubillahi’, meaning I seek refuge from the devil.
She said that the increase in the price of fuel has affected her daily income as she was just holding on to keep body and soul together.
”The removal of fuel subsidy has affected me a lot because I do not work like the men. I take a break to go home and cook and also help my children with their homework.
”Before now, I made between N8,000 and N10,000, but now to make N5,000 is by the Grace of God. We are just hoping that things will change for the better,” she said.
On her part, Mrs Bolanle Aribakun, a secondary school leaver, who abandoned her tailoring for tricycle riding, said she got motivated by other women that have succeeded in the business.
Bolanle started the business two years ago, and has successfully completed payment of the first tricycle she got on hire purchase. She now owns one and currently paying for the second.
”I started this business when I realised where our economy was going, and that it was only one who has fed well that would come to sew clothes.
”I needed to contribute to the upkeep of the family because with two children and my husband as a bricklayer, he cannot do it alone.
”And since I started, things have not remained the same again, it keeps getting better and I know it will be better than it is now,” said the mother of two.
The school cert holder said her male counterparts refer to her as ‘Iron Lady’ because she works like the men from morning until night because she has a target set for herself which must be met.
A passenger, Mr Habeeb Abubakar said he does not care about the gender of a tricycle rider as long as he reaches his destination safely.
He however noted that what he would not do upon sighting a woman as the driver is to sit beside her in the front, as there was no way their bodies won’t touch each other which is against his religious beliefs.
Another passenger, Mrs Aisha Bankole, said she likes to encourage female riders whenever she comes across them and that she over pays them at times, if she is financially bouyant.
She said stigmatising against such women would be like endorsing them to engage in illegal dealings to fend for themselves since the men can no longer do it alone.
Interestingly, Mr Oluwasegun Ogunmoyero, finds love, working with women riders more than the men.
To Ogunmoyero, who is the Chairman, Ogaju Tarmac of Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) under the Omo Alimi Umbrella, women are less violent than the male counterparts.
He said the women riding in his tarmac are indications that what men can do, women can do better as they pay their higher purchase repayment promptly than the men.
”I have six of them under me here and I have never for once regretted accepting them.
”They are not in any way violent or disobedient and for those that got their tricycle on higher purchase, they pay promptly than some men that we have to threaten them with arrest before they pay up.
”I commend their husbands for allowing them to show their potential and not limiting them,” he said.
The tarmac chairman noted that the present economic situation called for collaboration and support between husbands and wives for survival. (NAN)
The Joint Committee on Works in the National Assembly has called for innovative interventions to grant local contractors access to finance and unlock their potentials to contribute to national development.
The leadership of the committees made the call on Monday in Abuja, at the opening summit entitled “Empowering Local Contractors for National Development: Bridging Gaps and Building Partnerships.
”The Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Sen.
Barinada Mpigi (PDP-Rivers) said that local contractors were faced with challenges of limited financing, inadequate equipment and insecurity.He said that the challenges were hindering the potentials of the contractors to contribute to national goals.
The senator suggested innovative solutions like “tokenization of assets and tax credits” to bridge the financial gap experienced by contractors.
According to Mpigi, indigenous contractors have not been given opportunities over the years in the nation’s infrastructural sector.
He said that promoting fair procurement processes, engaging with local communities and prioritising environmental sustainability, while ensuring that infrastructure projects were built with the future in mind must be prioritised.
Mpigi urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to explore innovative approaches such as the tokenisation of assets.
According to him, this process allows local contractors to convert their assets into digital tokens, facilitating access to funds from a broader pool of investors.
“Challenges such as limited access to long-term financing, inadequate equipment, lack of insurance facilities, and issues of insecurity have long been obstacles to their growth and success.
“By unlocking these new financing opportunities, tokenization can empower local contractors to raise capital, enable fractional ownership, and improve liquidity in the sector.
“The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) can play a crucial role in supporting our local contractors by introducing easier access to tax credits, which will ease their financial burden.
“Such incentives can encourage investment in the sector, providing them with much-needed relief and fostering growth,” he added.
In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Works, Mr Akin Alabi (APC-Oyo) said that there was need for partnerships among stakeholders that prioritise local contractors in adherence to Executive Order 5, which promoted local content.
He said that the workshop was aimed at strengthening the bridges among the government, stakeholders and local contractors as well as construction companies, foster partnerships that would empower indigenous industries to transform Nigeria’s infrastructure.
According to him, Nigeria has a diverse landscape which holds immense potential for growth and development.
“However, to truly unlock these potentials, we need an approach that maximises local resources, skills and talents.
“It is time to make the call to embrace our local contractors not only as stakeholders but as partners in our journey to national development.
“We need a construction industry that is driven by local content, benefitting our people and fortifying our economy.
“Today’s summit provides an opportunity to address challenges, explore solutions and deepen collaborations between indigenous contractors, construction companies and key policymakers,” he said.
In her goodwill message, the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ms Margaret Oguntala, acknowledged the importance of collaboration among the various stakeholders in the country’s infrastructural sector.
Oguntala, represented by the President, Association of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria, Mr Kam-Salem Bukar, called the attention to the principles of Executive Order 5 signed by former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
She said that policymakers and legislatures were tasked with crafting laws that empowered local content and infrastructure initiatives.
According to her, by reinforcing the principles of Executive Order 5, they can ensure that Ministries, Departments and Agencies prioritise Nigerian professionals and resources in public procurement.
The NSE president identified professional consulting engineers and engineering regulatory bodies as important partners with significant input in the infrastructural arena.
Oguntala commended the organisers of the event and called for regular dialogue, training and capacity building as well as regulatory oversight to promote Nigeria’s infrastructural development. (NAN)
The Abia Government has said that, effective from Jan. 1, 2025, it will make it a punishable offense for parents or guardians who fail to send their children or wards to school.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Okey Kanu, made this known on Monday during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Umuahia.
Kanu said that this initiative reflected the state’s commitment to ensuring that every child received a basic education, with free schooling available up to the end of junior secondary school in line with the 2006 Abia State Child Rights Law
“There is no reason whatsoever why parents should not send their children to school.
“The issue of indigency is no longer the reason for non acquisition of free and basic education in Abia State so as from the first of January 2025, when this policy will come into full effect, parents who default would be prosecuted under that law.
“This course is part of the reforms that are ongoing in the educational sector,” he said.
He said that the policy underscored the government’s stance that financial constraints should no longer be a barrier to education for any child in Abia.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the ongoing reforms carried out by the government in the education sector.
Kanu said that the present administration had introduced several key policies and initiatives to advance education, infrastructure, and workers welfare.
He further said that the relocation order by the government for the relocation of Umuahia campus of Abia State University back to its Uturu main campus remains firm.
Kanu expressed the readiness of the government to engage with affected stakeholders to address any concerns,and said that the decision was made with the students’ and the institution’s best interests in mind.
On the new minimum wage, he expressed the readiness of the government to dialogue with the organised labor to address any concerns around implementation of the new minimum wage.
Kanu said that the present administration desired to ensure that transparency and mutual understanding existed between the government and labor unions.
On infrastructure, he said the government had approved contracts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of nine roads across Abia’s three senatorial zones.
Kanu said that the government had given directives for the immediate rehabilitation of the Osisioma flyover, which had started deteriorating two years after its commissioning by the previous administration.
He reiterated the resolve of the present administration to deliver substantial infrastructure improvements. (NAN)
The Borno government on Monday commended the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Special Independent Investigative Panel for their work in probing allegations of abuse by the Nigerian military.
Initial reports by Reuters in December 2022 claimed Nigerian military personnel were involved in forced terminations of pregnancies for over 10,000 women affected by Boko Haram insurgents as well as alleged killings of infants.
The reports claim this was part of the efforts to curb Boko Haram’s influence in Northeast of Nigeria.
Speaking at the panel’s final report presentation, Borno State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hauwa Abubakar, acknowledged the severity of the allegations against the counter-insurgency operators.
She thanked the NHRC, led by Executive Secretary Barrister Tony Ojukwu, retired Supreme Court Justice Abdu Aboki, and the panel members for their commitment to transparency.
“Receiving the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel today, I am filled with both gratitude and responsibility.
“This report represents a significant step toward addressing these grave allegations, and I commend the panel’s dedication in the difficult circumstances,” she said.
She highlighted the leadership of Gov. Babagana Zulum in prioritising humanitarian assistance and protecting the dignity of displaced persons in Borno.
She restated the state government’s commitment to meeting the people’s immediate needs and promoting their long-term stability.
The Attorney General emphasised the importance of the panel’s findings for understanding Borno’s complex humanitarian challenges, particularly as counter-insurgency efforts continue.
“The findings are invaluable as we work to strengthen human rights protections and ensure accountability in our state,” she said.
Abubakar said that the state’s ongoing partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and other organisations focused on healthcare, education, and securing shelter for those affected by conflict.
She said the government had also prioritised community resilience programmes in education and economic empowerment to help prevent future crisis.
Abubakar urged both federal and state institutions, including the Nigerian military, to act swiftly on the panel’s proposed measures.
She stressed on the need to improve conditions within IDP camps and to enhance record-keeping practices to ensure the well-being of the people.
The attorney general also called on all stakeholders, including NGOs, UN agencies, and the Nigerian military to join in efforts to restore human rights and dignity across Borno.
“Together we can establish a framework for accountability and justice that offers hope to victims and a model for other regions facing similar crises,” she said.
The event was attended by Borno’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar; the Executive Secretary, Borno State Primary Healthcare Board, Prof. Muhammed Arab-Alhaji; and the representatives of the Shehu of Borno.
Others included senior government officials, the media, UN and civil society organisations.
Also at the event were representatives of the military, NSCDC, DSS, medical practitioners, the NBA, CJTF, and various community, youth and women’s groups. (NAN)
Lassa Fever: Nigeria Records 174 Deaths, 1,035 Confirmed Cases from January to October – FG
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Federal Government, FG, on Tuesday said as of October 13th, Nigeria has recorded 8,569 suspected...
NASS Moves to Unlock Financial Opportunities for Local Contractors
Share The Joint Committee on Works in the National Assembly has called for innovative interventions to grant local contractors access...
Child Rights Law: Abia Govt Vows to Punish Erring Parents from Jan. 1, 2025
ShareThe Abia Government has said that, effective from Jan. 1, 2025, it will make it a punishable offense for parents...
Borno Gov’t Lauds NHRC’s Probe of Alleged Abuse
ShareThe Borno government on Monday commended the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Special Independent Investigative Panel for their...
Collapsed Mining Site Kills 13 in Plateau
ShareNo fewer than 13 persons have been killed in a collapsed mining site in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of...
Court Nullifies Ebonyi PDP Congresses
ShareBy Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, on Monday nullified the Ali Odefa...
Wike Vows to Demolish Illegal Shanties in Abuja
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja Despite protests by the affected residents, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has...
Ohaneze Ndigbo Appreciates Nigerians for Solidarity During Iwuanyanwu Funeral
ShareFrom Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed profound gratitude to Nigerians for the uncommon solidarity with the...
CAPPA Urges FG to End Mining Tragedies
ShareFrom Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the federal government and state authorities...
Bayelsa to Set Up Marine Safety Task Force
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa As part of efforts to ramp up safety on waterways as well as harness its blue...