Recently, Community Watchdog came across a woman bus driver shuttling from Orlu to Owerri. A pleasant surprise one could witness in the hustling and bustling city of Lagos. Moved by the rare feat of a woman venturing into a men-dominated field, Community Watchdog in a press chart, uncovered the woman’s identity, her vision, mission, motivation, inspiration and challenges and hereby presents it for your reading delight.
Excerpts:
Introduction: I am Mrs. Rachel Duruigbo. I am from Umunam-Attah in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. I am married and with my husband we are blessed with seven children.
Work experience: I am a Health Assistant working at Njaba Local Government Council Headquarters
On when and why she takes to bus driving:
After the close of work I make a trip from Orlu to Owerri and back. I make more trips on holidays, Saturdays and on Sundays after service.
On why, well, I do it as a hobby. I have passion for driving. More importantly it is for family support. What I realize from each trip, I add to that of my husband for the family up keeps again, I am furthering my education at the ESUT-affiliated Thinking Corner Ecumenical, Enugu this August. All these require so much money. You can now agree with me.
Commencement and how long on the family-support hobby:
I have been on it for about two years now. I started with a car which I drove as kabu-kabu before acquiring the present 14-seater Mitsubishi L.300 bus.
On challenges:
The “Agberos” disturb me from picking passengers along the road though, they charge me less commission than the male drives. Conductors short-change me from the fares they usually collect from passengers. That’s why I decided to do without a conductor. Passengers pay me directly. At times, I had flat tyre; but most of the times some men offered helping hands in fixing up the tyres for me. Generally, I drive very carefully and have not had any road mishap so far.
On motivation:
My husband gives me support and encouragement. The security operatives on the road hail me. A fellow woman has indicated interest to join me as a conductor. The commuters co-operate with me while on the steering. With all these, I am motivated and inspired to render more services to mankind.
To fellow women:
Let us render more value-added services as hobbies/vocations that would assist in supporting our husbands in family-up-keep. As mothers we have the God’s gifts of managing the home front and other chosen jobs well. Once preoccupied then, there will be no time for idle talks or bickering.
To government:
I think Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his wife for empowering women. Let one of the buses lined up for August meeting be given to me to boost my business.
Courtesy: Community Watchdog Newspaper
