While many of her mates believe that living through this difficult life demands that they should engage in all sorts of immoral acts, 28-year-old Monica Kadri thought otherwise. She believes that life itself presents a lot of opportunities that could be tapped and explored to the fullest for people to have decent livings.
It was not surprised that when Monica, who hails from Kogi State, could not continue her education after she finished her secondary school education, the Senior School Certificate, she opted to get herself working for people.
Monica Kadri got a job as a Sales Assistant at an automobile workshop in Lekki area of Lagos Island.
“Due to lack of fund, I could not continue my education after my secondary school. I got a job at an automobile workshop as an office assistant. At that place, they employed a lady mechanic. One day, I looked at this lady and I told myself that I could do what this lady was doing and from then I picked the interest in mechanic work. I saw that lady as a motivation to get interest in the job.
“I spoke with her and she too developed interest in me. It was she that took me to Enpower from where I was trained and later, I got to D.T. Autocafe, an auto repairs and maintenance workshop located at 11 John-Vic Igboanugo in Lekki Phase 1 where I am currently working and learning more in automobile mechanic,” said Monica Kadri who spoke English language fluently during the interview.
According to Empowering African Women, D.T. Autocafe is a place where young trainees graduate with adequate skills to work within the automobile repair and maintenance industry in Nigeria and a number of trainees are doing well in the industry today. D.T. Autocafe, the Ultimate Care Care, is owned by ‘Dayo Adeola.
While speaking on why not other job apart from mechanic, Monica told Newsbreak that “I find this mechanic work very interesting because it is what I want to do. This is a job I think I could do when there is no means for me to further my education. I always feel happy when I am on the job.”
She disclosed that she can work on all kind of vehicles except trucks. “For four year, I have been on this job, I can work any kind of automobiles especially on suspension, servicing and lately I have begun to work on engines, though not yet perfect,” she said.
Monica Kadri said that she look forward to have her own workshop after leaving D.T. Autocafe, but she is scared about the money of setting up one especially when she thinks of her poor background.
“There is no doubt I will need help to set up my own after my days at D.T. Autocafe, I am believing in God for help because this is a job I find joy in doing.”
Speaking on how she has been able to cope and the challenges. She said: “It has not been easy especially on feeding myself and transportation to the workshop, but I have to thank the owner of autocafe who has been of great assistance. He has been helping me.”
Monica Kadri said she has not been feeling inferior while working in a male dominated work. “Being among men mechanics makes me feel stronger, I don’t usually see myself as a woman when I am on the job. I always try to do what they are doing, even if I cannot do it, I always try my best to do it and this has been helping me a lot to learn from men around me,” she said
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