‘Keke’: Women drivers bring dignity to the job – Union

Tricycle business popularly called `Keke Marwa, Okada or NAPEP` is believed to be a male-dominated-transport business. However, the perception is gradually fading off with the emergence of women as competitors. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) surveyed Okota-Isolo and Surulere axis of Lagos state which is fast becoming a world of female ‘Keke’ riders that […]

Tricycle business popularly called `Keke Marwa, Okada or NAPEP` is believed to be a male-dominated-transport business. However, the perception is gradually fading off with the emergence of women as competitors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) surveyed Okota-Isolo and Surulere axis of Lagos state which is fast becoming a world of female ‘Keke’ riders that have defied the perception to beat unemployment.

Some members of the National Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycles Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (NCMTORAN), Okota chapter, who spoke said the increase in women’s participation in the business had brought respect and dignity to the work.

Jennifer Nwanze, 25, was quite cheerful to tell her story. “I started this business two years ago with the help of my brother who introduced me to it; he is also a ‘Keke’ rider. He saved enough money to buy three ‘Keke’ and I told him to teach me how to ride since I was jobless.

“Riding has been fun and challenging since I started, and people will most times prefer boarding my ‘Keke’ than those of my male contemporaries. At least, this is better for me than going to sleep around for money,” Jennifer said.

Another female rider who did not want her name mentioned said her counterparts respect her. The rider with a low-cut hairstyle who could almost be mistaken for a man said, “If I can finish paying the money for this ‘Keke’, I will buy another and hire it out to someone who will be riding  it and be paying me daily just like I am doing now, preferably a woman.”

For Amaka Onyemechi, a rider, she advised women to stop treating themselves as second class citizens. “My uncle gave me a loan that I used to buy my present tricycle and after some period, I was able to pay back and now the tricycle is mine. I will never regret that I am riding a ‘Keke’, I am happy to be doing it,” she noted.