An all-female mechanic workshop was recently commissioned in Sokoto State. The workshop, a private initiative of NANA Girls and Women Empowerment Initiative is aimed at breaking the gender stereotype in car repairs and maintenance. Daily Trust spoke with some of the female trainees.
Shamsiyya defied all odds to enroll into the profession that was generally believed to be for only the male gender.
Shamsiyya Bashir, a 23-year-old indigene who hails from the ancient city of Sokoto State, was among the trainees at the all-female mechanic workshop in Sokoto State that was recently launched by the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Jelani Aliyu.
Her intention was to specialise in vehicle electrical appliances. Today, she repairs, car air conditioners, key starters and even remove and replace the entire wiring system of any vehicle.
She said that she learnt all these within two years of her stay in the workshop.
“If you doubt me, bring your car and you will see wonders. I can even repair your screen wiper if I notice it’s faulty,” she said while referring to a customer’s wiper which looked faulty.
According to her, she developed an interest in the job because of her father who is a car key expert.
Shamsiyya who is a trained Community Health Practitioner and works in a community clinic in her area noted that her newfound profession is dear to her.
“When I told my parents about my plan to join the centre, my father was very happy. In fact, he personally took me there and even paid my registration fee,” she said.
On why she did not go for their family business of fabricating keys which is less cumbersome, she said, “It is not meant for women. But sometimes, I go to his shop and I am learning a lot of things there, but it is not my favourite when to comes to cars,” she said.
On whether she has ever experienced any form of stigma from her friends because of her profession, she said, “I only become a laughing stock among my friends and siblings who believe mechanical work is for men only.”
When asked whether she would abandon the profession at the instance of her suitor, she said, “I will not accept a marriage proposal from anybody who will not allow me to do my work.”
Gladys Obasi, another 19-year-old female mechanic trainee, said her decision to learn the profession was informed by the ordeal of her friend’s mother in the hand of male mechanics.
“My Friend’s mother told me a story about how she was cheated by her mechanic who collected about N100, 000 for something that was just N5000.
“This was what informed my decision to learn the profession in order to save my fellow females from being cheated all the time by mechanics,” she said
Another reason, she said, was that the centre was changing that gender stereotype and also because of how the profession is made easier now due to the advancement in technology.
Gladys, whose parents are from Abia State but was born and brought up in Sokoto described the job as a very decent one which serves as a means of income for them, females.
“For lack of jobs, ladies out there go into prostitution and hawking among other abominable things, but with this work, one can protect one’s integrity and also help the society,” she said.
She revealed that her plan was to go back to the classroom and study mechanical engineering.
However, 19-year-old Rahila Abdullahi said this was not her preferred job because her ambition was to become a professional journalist.
“I now have a passion for this profession and I will not abandon it even if I get another job. What I will only do is to combine both, which is possible.”
Like Shamsiyya, Rahila who hails from Wamakko Local Government Area, Sokoto State, says she would reject any marriage proposal as long as the person was not willing to support her realise her dream of becoming a professional mechanic.
When our reporter asked them if they could remove the whole engine, they both pointed at an engine on the ground which they claimed to have removed themselves.
Daily Trust learnt that the girls were being trained by male instructors under the auspices of Nana Girl and Women Empowerment Initiative.
Their supervisor, Hindatu Dayyabu, said the place was established about two years ago with the sole aim of empowering women unemployed in society.
According to her, before the establishment of the centre, a research was conducted by way of issuing a questionnaire to female car owners and a majority of them were of the view that male mechanics were not sincere.
“Some of them narrated how they had been cheated by their mechanics and their male relatives who take their cars to mechanic workshops.
“So when we notified them about our plan to open an all-female mechanic for female car owners, they all welcomed it.
“This workshop is meant for female car owners and we provide all they need to feel at home,” she said.
According to her, they started with 25 trainees, but along the way, some abandoned the training for reasons beyond their control.
“So the number dropped to less than 20. But we enrolled more trainees shortly after the centre was officially commissioned by the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Commission, Jelani Aliyu,” she said.
She solicited support from the government, corporate organisations and individuals, saying “We need a place bigger than this because of our number and we need some tools that will simplify their work because of our nature.
Malam Farida Yusuf, a car owner, said she feels more secure and comfortable at this mechanic workshop than Buzaye mechanic village which is dominated by men.
She also described their services as satisfactory.
Another car owner, Malama Habiba, said this would encourage more women to venture into other businesses perceived as “no go areas” for women.
