A cut above men: Meet Benin’s lady butchers

In the past, butchery and meat selling business were exclusively reserved for the men-folk but now it is one of the all-embracing businesses for the women folk who have defied all odds to compete with their male counterparts. As a result of this development, women now dominate the business in most of the markets in […]

In the past, butchery and meat selling business were exclusively reserved for the men-folk but now it is one of the all-embracing businesses for the women folk who have defied all odds to compete with their male counterparts.
As a result of this development, women now dominate the business in most of the markets in Benin City, the Edo State capital, giving credence to the fact that it is no longer a male affair.
Our reporter, who visited Satana Market along Sapele Road and some other markets in the Benin, observed that the number of women in the business surpasses that of the men.
Some of the women meat sellers who spoke to Daily Trust on Saturday, said the economic situation country’s coupled with the desire to support their husbands financially, forced them to embrace the business.
They told our reporter that they were apprentices for one year before becoming masters of their own businesses. The dexterity and pace at which they slice the meat for customers give credence to the fact that they went through the nitty-gritty of the business.
One of the women, Mrs Eunice Owumi who is in her late thirties, said: “When I told my husband that I wanted to learn this business, he took me to his kinsman who taught me the business before starting my own. And I have been in the business for over three years now.
“After learning the trade, I registered with N 100, 000, because if you don’t register with the association of meet sellers you cannot practice the business.
“The business is flourishing but now things are too costly.  When I started, it was not like this because then we were making much profit unlike now that things are very costly with little gain. Today, I bought N40,000 worth of meat, if I am able to exhaust it, I will have little gains.”
Mrs. Owumi told our reporter that she started the business with N10,000 three years ago and that she kept increasing the amount with the profit she made, saying that at the moment, “I buy meat of over N40, 000.”
She however advised other women not to stay at home waiting for their husbands to bring money because “if you leave every responsibility for a man, it means you don’t want him to last long.”
On her part, Mrs Doris Akobaye, said she is happy being in the business that was hitherto dominated by men and she now contributes to her family’s upkeep.
She told Daily Trust on Saturday that the desire to support her husband in view of the prevailing economic situation made her to become a meet seller today.
“When I looked at the situation in the country, I told myself that I must start something to support my husband to make ends meet. But I could not figure out what business I should do. But one day, the meat business just came to my mind and I have a friend who is already into the business. So I told my husband who gave me all the necessary support throughout my apprenticeship.”
Mrs. Akobaye who has been in the business in the last five years, said: “we now compete with our male counterparts in the business.”
But for another seller who gave her name simply as Mrs. Fidelis, profit-making in the business has dropped due to high cost of things in the market and lack of purchasing power on the side of customers.
“We used to make gain in the past, but due to high cost of things in the country, the profit has reduced, but we still smile home on daily basis. As you can see, women are more in the business than men due to the harsh economic situation. In the past, a customers could buy N3, 000 meat, but now we hardly get such customers,” she said.
When asked how the business has impacted her life, she simply said “good or bad, it has impacted positively on me and my family.”
She said: “Right from time, I liked the business, but because then it was seen as men’s job, I did not do anything. When situation changed and women were embracing it, I didn’t waste time and there is no dull moment in the business.”
Also speaking to Daily Trust on Saturday,  Mrs. Queen Ukoro, who also served as an apprentice for one year, said the business is very tasking, but with determination, one can be successful.
“The business is not as easy as people think. If you jump into it without learning it, you could run at a loss. Many who had tried that, had to go back and learn for at least a year,” she said.
Mrs. Ukoro who is in her early 40s said: “I started the business with N8, 000 three years ago, but now, I buy meath worth over N50,000 for sale. The only good thing now is that we’re are able to support our husbands in taking care of the family with the little profit we are making.”
Speaking with our reporter on women in the business, the chairman, Association of Meet Shop Owners, Satana Market branch, David Ominuta, described the women as very focused on the business.
“The women are doing well. In those days, it was for the men, but now the women have embraced the business and are doing better in it. With the business, they can take care of themselves, contribute to the family upkeep and also save.  To be a member of the association now, you have to pay registration fees of N150, 000. As you can see, they are more women than men in this market,” he said.