Meet Mrs Adenike Adeyinka Ademisoye

– Your Awesome Ikeja City Mall Bus Driver

Today, I boarded a bus from Ikeja to the Ikeja City Mall. As I finally got to the parking lot for this route, I saw that the next bus to be boarded was being driven by a woman. However, more interesting was the way she was handling the agbero guy that was directing her. They were not only sparing verbally but also throwing a punch here and there.

I was intrigued. So, when I saw that front seat beside her was still vacant, because I was really her first passenger, I took the seat. I was looking at how she was ready to hit the agbero who she was threatening her with punches. I just threw at her jokingly, “Ma’am, it seems you forgot that you are still a woman o! Wanting to beat up a guy?” Of course, she ignored me. She was busy collecting her money from her passengers. Shortly after that, we were on our sweet way while she was still threatening the young man with fire and brimstone. She paid the agbero that collected the toll for her picking. As we pulled out, another young man ran to her front. She told that one that she would see him when she returned. Of course, the young man wanted money.

We went on our merry way.

Then:

Me: I will like to write a blog about you.  

Adeyinka: No problem.

Me: I need your contact so I can let you know when it is out.

She called out her contact number for me. I keyed this into my phone immediately.

Adeyinka: Radio! Testing Ground! Shoprite! Secretariat!

Me and some others: Shoprite wa.

We continued our conversation.

Me: You know, I really admire girls that go out to get their lives going.

Adeyinka: At first, I was really feeling down because of the way people would yell at me and talk to me as if I do not have humanity. I used to feel so embarrassed and sad. I have a BSc Business Management for God’s sake. However, I got used to their bitchy comments and learnt to overlook it.

Me: If I also tell you that I was running a small petty store beside the girl’s hostels at FCE Okene when I was doing my masters, would you believe me. The best part of the story is that one of those days I was returning from the College Library, which I normally stay at to read from 8am-12noon when I was writing my dissertation, so that I could open my shop for sales after reading, a young lady approached me and said she learnt that I was doing my masters. I told her ‘yes’. She then said: ‘You are very humble.’ I then asked her that if I could not steal or do ashewo, won’t the sensible thing to do be to bend down and work? Adeyinka laughed in agreement. I thus concluded to Adeyinka that there is no shame in honest labour because there is dignity in labour.

She told me that her business is a source of income for taking care of her family. I told her it is honest labour. That is enough. I would like to share her story, and we could take it from there.

Indeed, I told her that I am really glad to see many girls stepping up and taking on the job as Bolt and In-Drive riders nowadays as a few have driven me from the airport or around the city once or twice. I have seen other women taking on other jobs traditionally thought belonged to the male world and seeing them good at it.

We both agreed that it is better that the girls step up rather than being objectified and used for mere male pleasure release as a source of economic empowerment. Indeed, after spending the money, where does the next one come from? Women learning to be independent and creating a sustainable future for themselves without having to sell their dignity was the only way to be truly empowered. Having a mind and a soul that is giving glory to only your maker/God is true freedom, empowerment and self-determinism. That means that you do not dishonour God in your body, no matter what. Girls, we are better than that.

Anyway, we chatted till I got to my stop, and I alighted. I am glad to meet these Amazons. They remind me of the FINsters. I did a whole study on this group.

However, my hope is that I can do a more in-depth interview with Adeyinka in the nearest future; and any other woman that would not mind being featured on this website. It would be so great when the women know that their stories really matter. I have told her we would discuss further. I sincerely hope her story inspires you. I hope you see that your hustles are legitimate. Let’s tell the world about it. It is not about big moves but the small moves that end up making big impacts.

Thank you for sharing your life with us, Mrs Adenike Adeyinka Ademisoye, omo Ijesa Obokun, Mama Ronke. (She told me all these o; I didn’t make them up, I promise. Smiles) We hear you! Go girl! We are routing for you to make it into the big leagues in the business world. The world is waiting for you to shine brightly!