A young woman’s journey into redefining automotive painting in Jos

Pamela Icho Yakubu has been nicknamed Ella the painter, a name she earned for dedication, meticulousness and mastering a skill dominated by men. In this report, the 29-year-old revealed the components that built her passion as a young girl and led to her strong will and perseverance as she journeys as a female automotive paint […]

Pamela Icho Yakubu has been nicknamed Ella the painter, a name she earned for dedication, meticulousness and mastering a skill dominated by men. In this report, the 29-year-old revealed the components that built her passion as a young girl and led to her strong will and perseverance as she journeys as a female automotive paint technician.

Led on by her love for colours and a knack for beautifying things, 29 years old Pamela Icho Yakubu has silenced an age-old stereotype in the male-dominated automobile industry; she is proof that women belong everywhere, even in autoshops.

Holding an electrostatic spray gun, Pamela balances her creativity with years of experience. She has mastered the skills needed to become an automotive paint technician, turning dull-looking vehicles with delaminated paints into freshly baked masterpieces.

In the densely populated commercial area of Farin-Gada, in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, where clusters of automobile workshops stretch as far as the eye can see, Pamela has blended with the ecosystem, often part of the intrusive noises that surround the area.

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Being the first female automotive paint technician in a workshop that has existed for over 32 years, vehicle owners now seek her out to restore the beauty of their vehicles. Here, she is Ella the painter, a name she is fondly called by colleagues and clients. As she stretches the electrostatic spray gun to shower a coat of paint on a vehicle, Pamela casually uses a technique that requires delicate steps for a perfect finish.

But the road to becoming Ella the painter has not been smooth. Pamela’s passion was birthed from a place of lack and pain that exploded into a burning desire for a brighter future. As the first child among four children, Pamela said she grew up with limited opportunities within the Kwasha community of Miango village, some 30 kilometres from the city of Jos. She recalled the family having to face inconsistent meals and the children’s education often interrupted due to unpaid fees.

Things got worse in 2006, when at the age of 11, Pamela’s father was involved in a motorcycle accident while returning from a three-day annual festival called “Zerechi.” She said the tragedy had left her father with severe brain damage to date while her mother, Mrs Naomi Sibi, continued to work hard to make life better for them.

“It broke my heart,” the 29-year-old said, recalling the many financial challenges the family had to face and how her mother worked hard to make their lives comfortable.

But the challenges had sharpened her goals early enough. Pamela embraced hard work and determination as requisite tools for a better life. After secondary school, she made a decision that would change her life forever. 

 “Wanting to ease our financial burden, I opened up to my mom about my decision to become a mechanic. She was devastated by the fact that I would have to truncate my education. She was quite reluctant in the beginning but I was equally persistent.”

While exploring her love for fixing cars, in 2015, Pamela and 14 others were sponsored to Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN), plant in Kaduna State by the Plateau State Government. There, she began to develop the skill of spraying cars. “Out of the three other girls that were part of the training, I am currently the only one still in this field,” she said.

With more hands-on lessons to perfect her newfound skill, “I proceeded on practical training for eight years and graduated on the 31st of December 2023 but continued working for my boss as I gathered funds to start up.” 

While earning a daily wage at her boss’s auto shop, Pamela continues to fascinate many and, in some cases, challenge her male colleagues. 

 “Pamela personified the expression, what a man can do, a woman can do better,” says her boss, Mr Simon David, who expressed respect for her skills, dedication and attention to detail. “She has challenged me personally and other male workers here. There are things here that only Pamela can do, she oversees jobs given to the men, and it amazes me the corrections she makes on their jobs,” he explained.

The founder of the auto shop said Pamela is the first female he worked with in his 32 years of setting up the garage. “I wish more young women would believe in themselves and break out from traditional gender roles in the workplace. I wish more young women would explore new opportunities and make their mark,” he said.

With her daily earnings, Pamela now contributes to the family’s financial struggles as well as save a part to further her education. “I made a promise to my mother that I’ll always earn a legitimate income to take care of her; I’m not there yet but I will soon,” she assured.

But most importantly, Pamela has a dream and is saving a part of her earnings to see it come true. “I intend to have my own auto workshop,” she said, adding that, “I intend to train and empower young girls to have the skill.”

Taking Weekend Trust on a typical day’s routine, Pamela says her work starts at 7:30 am and ends around 8 pm, depending on how chaotic the day gets. Each day offers a meticulous process, she says. From the initial sketch to the final coat, she often blends colours with an intuitive understanding of transforming ordinary vehicles into personalized works of art.

“The work has a lot of processes depending on the bodywork to be done on a car,” she said, using one hand to wipe off sweat that had already formed at the top edge of her hairline. “We normally take two weeks for a vehicle work to be completed because it’s a one-step-at-a-time job. Auto spray paint is not something you rush or follow short-cuts,” she said.

After the day’s busy schedule, Pamela said she would rather use her free time to rest at home than socialise. She also sings and dances at her leisure, a sharp contrast to what she embodies at work.

She acknowledged the impact of her demanding work schedule on her social life, “I’ve lost a lot of friends since I started this job because I hardly have time to meet with them. I get too tired to hang out.” While she doesn’t regret her choices, she hopes to have more free time for friends in the future.

Regarding challenges, especially given Pamela’s career path, she acknowledged that it can be demanding. However, she added, “I enjoy working with the men I work with. They have their ways of encouraging me, even though sometimes they tend to show off their strength,” she said chuckling.

But there is a beauty downside to working as a paint technician. She often has to deal with very dry, rough and sometimes flaky skin conditions due to constant exposure to a variety of paints. Pamela, however, says that will not deter her.

With social media visibility, Pamela has a growing fan base and often receives a lot of feedback from fans who encourage her. Her Facebook account has become engaging with over 7,000 followers. Aside from the beautiful pictures she occasionally posts on her socials, she uses her Facebook account to advertise her skills by regularly sharing content of herself at work in uniform.

“My journey, especially in recent days, is one I never imagined because this whole thing started without the thoughts of being famous. Now, I have young women telling me I am a source of inspiration to them. This is a drive for me to never slack,” she assured.