Exclusive report: How female ‘keke’ riders are making it big in Lagos (photo)
– Female tricycle rider stakes claims in business operations in Lagos state
– Reveals the major secret to her success in the business including her recently-completed four bedroom flat
It is said that what a man can do, a woman can do better. And with the tricycle business thriving in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, the women have already staked a claim in the transportation business.
The business is widely known to be for the male folks alone, but recent findings by NAIJ.com have shown that the women are beginning to tap into this new revenue-making venture.
Iya Dammy on duty in Lagos. Photo credit: David Oladele
Here is the true life story of a female rider, identified as Folake Gbadebo, aka Iya Dammy, who has dared the odds to make massive gains.
She is the first woman to start the tricycle riding business at the Pen Cinema tricycle park, Agege, Lagos.
Iya Dammy, while speaking with our correspondent, noted that housewives are not supposed to continue waiting for their husbands to come back home before they can buy salt, pepper and some recipe while trying to prepare a meal.
According to the woman who said she has three tricycles that are still in good shapes, she also has a recently-completed four bedroom flat located at Ifo, area of Ogun state.
“I started riding tricycle in the year 2009 when I was a caterer. I used to ride it to supply my customers food and drinks then. But in February 2011, my machine was stolen.
“However, just a month after the first one was whisked away, I procured another one and which I started riding as a commercial rider since I had a good knowledge of how to ride.
“I was the only woman among few men. Three years later, two women joined us and today, we are now four riding the keke and plying Pen Cinema-Ogba route,” she said.
Speaking further, the hardworking woman said: “three years after I started dealing in the business, I was able to complete my four bedroom flat. Between 2011 and 2013 when I started, the least I went home with daily was N10,000. Though there is no as much money as there was in the business before, we have the machines everywhere today.
“I thank God that today, there are three tricycles which people ride on hire purchase.”
The riders (both men and women) have expressed their profound appreciation to Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state for allowing continuity of the commercial tricycle operations in the state.
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