I refused going to school because I wanted to be a mechanic, only lady mechanic in Delta reveals (Photos)

This woman, Onajite Emoyan, 38, is an Urhobo from Agbaroh in Ughelli North local government area of Delta state. She is the only woman mechanic in the entire state. She repairs all kinds of vehicles, especially Peugeot and Benz. She started the trade in 2001 in Warri, the business hub of Delta.

She attended primary and secondary schools in Warri. Although her parents wanted her to go on with her studies, she could not continue. She was then advised to seek a trade where she could make a living for herself. But rather than seek a trade in a woman’s world like tailoring or hair dressing, she opted to become a mechanic in the commercial city of Warri.

“My father actually wanted me to continue with my school but I was not interested in school, and so I asked myself what I could do with my life. Since I could not go to school, my father thereafter advised me to learn a trade but I refused, what I wanted was to be a mechanic, and that was how I joined the mechanics in Warri.

“I just like being a mechanic. I have not seen women doing it, so I decided to take it as a challenge. I love the job. If anything else comes my way, I wouldn’t abandon my mechanic job; no, not at all,” Emoyan said.

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Emoyan is happy being the only female mechanic among the over 5000 mechanics in Delta state. And she is active in the association of mechanics in the state, otherwise called the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA). An insider told NAIJ.com that other mechanics respect her because she is the only woman among them.

Now, why is she so engrossed with the job that she can’t leave it for anything else? Emoyan said: “I just like doing it. For a woman to come out to become a mechanic, it’s not a joke. I’ve gone round many places I’ve not seen a woman doing mechanic work. I’ve been hearing there are women but I’ve not seen any. It’s only when I travelled to Lagos that I saw a woman doing the work but apart from that, I’ve not seen any.”

She said that she feels happy being in the midst of other mechanics doing her job. According to her, the male mechanics see her as their only sister in the business and accord her the respect due to her. She repairs Peugeot and Mercedes Benz and other vehicle brands in the city of Warri.

Emoyan has been involved in mechanic work since 2001. Today, she is a seasoned professional in her own right. For her, there is much money in the trade compared to others, an added reason she is unwilling to drop the mechanic job for any other in the world.

On how much she makes a day, she said it depends on the availability of customers “but I can confidently say there is money in it because there is always a good performance on daily basis”.

She said on a normal work day, she puts on her overall when working but outside after the day’s work or on special functions, she dresses as a woman.

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Although some vehicle owners attempt cheating her, apparently because she is a woman, she knows how to bring them round. “There is money in it but it’s just that there are some customers that are wicked. After working for them, they will tell you there is no money. That one brings quarrel but I will tell them you see me a woman doing this job and you want to cheat me, please encourage me and with that they will pay me my money,” she said.

Emoyan encouraged women to do decent jobs that could fetch them respect and money, saying women who engage in prostitution and other kinds of immoral acts in a bid to make a living, lack self-respect.

“I’ve always told women that they must learn something. You can’t just sit at home and wait for a man or be running from one man to the other. Man cannot give you enough money that will satisfy you as a woman. You go to Mr. A, he gives you money, you go to Mr. B, he gives you money, how long will you continue begging for money? I believe when you make your money you will enjoy it better than what men will give you as a woman.”

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For the youths who are busy pursuing politicians and waiting for quick wealth without sweat, she said “that is not the best for them,” adding that “you cannot reap where you did not invest. My advice to the youths is to learn and be involved in a trade. If you are not hardworking, there is no way you can be successful in this life. I want to believe that those who make quick money without sweat are involved in rituals, cultism and armed robbery.”

On how she copes as a lady among men, she said a lady must be determined to face her job. According to her, it was her determination to learn and overlook the intimidation and harassment from men that made her succeed in the job.

“Yes, men will definitely disturb you but you must have the mind to bear their moves for you to succeed. When I started, the men were disturbing me but my boss will always call me and advise me to concentrate on the work that I have come to learn. So, my success in this job was borne out of my determination and today I’m happy as a mechanic.”