Mr Femi Ajala has spent decades operating a fumigation business in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. On a particular evening, he made a trip to his mechanic workshop located at Oke Ado, a popular business area in the heart of Ibadan. Having discussed with the mechanic his car’s latest issues, he sat down while the mechanic and his boys went to work on the car. As he observed other artisans at work on the mechanic grounds, he was surprised to see a young girl busy at work at a welder’s workshop.
His surprise is not out of place. Nigeria is a country that has long opened up itself to the possibilities that the internet has to offer. Since the inception of GSM technology in the country in the early 2000s, mobile telecommunication companies have been quick to deliver internet services that have become democratised with the proliferation of smartphones over the last 15 years. The young people of Nigeria have taken advantage of these opportunities provided by cyberspace, and have found their place in front of smartphone cameras as content creators on social media, or behind the screen as a ‘tech bro’ or ‘tech sis,’ the language used respectively to describe a young male or female who works with any of the numerous technology skills.
On the flip side, internet fraud has become the mainstay of many Nigerian youths. There is now therefore a gaping lacuna in the area of artisans and other skilled manual labour or craftsmen in Nigeria.
Therefore, when Ajala noticed Bolanle Adebisi, a young girl, demonstrating her interest in welding, it was truly intriguing. “Seeing such is rare and worth celebrating,” he noted.
Bolanle was at the verge of completing her primary school education when she began to pick an interest in the art of welding. Welding is indeed an art because it involves creativity and passion, and can be a way to express oneself.
She told Nigerian Tribune that she has been living away from her parents since they broke up when she was three years old. Since then, she had been with an elderly woman who housed her and sent her to school.
Finishing from a public primary school in 2019, she was to proceed to a public secondary school when fortune smiled on her. She attempted the entry examination into Rochas Foundation College, Ibadan and was picked. This was her opportunity for a quality education which she has pursued till the present. She will be resuming to SS3 when schools re-open in Oyo State on Monday, September 16.
For the past four years, she has made it a practice to resume at the welder’s workshop after school hours.
She told Nigerian Tribune how the journey of apprenticeship as welder started:
“During the COVID era there was no school. I was helping my grandma (referring to her elderly guardian) to sell provisions. Near our house there is this mechanic workshop and the workers there usually patronise us for satchet water and soft drinks. So, I decided to help my grandma by taking some of our drinks and ‘pure water’ there to sell.
“On the mechanic grounds, there are painters, welders, mechanics, electricians and the like.
“It was there I saw the welder who is now my boss. I had never seen those instruments before and I got interested. At that time, I was learning dancing and I played football in school. Many people did not know I was a girl.”
She said that as time went on, she kept visiting the welding workshop after school. But, according to her, her mother did not like it. My mother said, “Is it a man’s job you want to learn?”
But Bolanle said, “I don’t like ‘girl’s work.’ It is common. Why would I do hairdressing or tailoring? I decided to do something that is uncommon. I have seen many people finish school and remain unemployed. They later go to learn a skill. So, I decided to learn this skill in order to make money for myself in case there are no jobs when I finish school.”
She said she asked the man who owned the welding workshop if she could be an apprentice and he agreed. This was after months of stopping by after school to observe and try her hands on simple things at the workshop.
“Some people discouraged me after I started. I met many people while on the job. Some would encourage me by giving me money. But it was not the money that kept me going. It was my interest.”
Bolanle said she has learnt how to weld burglary proofs for windows, door frames among other metal works.
She said she did not have to pay for the apprenticeship.
“When I return from school, I go to the workshop. I am there till around 6pm or 7pm. However, during tests or examination period, I do not go to work and my boss understands.”
Bolanle said that her experience as a welder’s apprentice so far has been a mix of encouragement and discouragement.
“I and my boss once went to do a job at a place near the workshop. I met the person we were working for who was surprised to see a girl working as a welder. He was so impressed that he has been helping out with my school fees after that.”
She said however that she has received more discouragement on the job than encouragement.
“Some women who met me said that I would lose my shape and womanly features if I continued to do this job.
“But I can do anything on this job. I cut rods, carry metals, paint and other things that males do on the job.
“At a time, I was the only apprentice my boss had to work with apart from his son.”
Bolanle said she has plans to become a lawyer. “My focus right now is to be a lawyer. I have sat down to study myself. I have seen what a successful lawyer looks like; I believe I can be one and still have welding as another source of income.”
Speaking about her interaction with peers she declared, “I don’t have friends. The reason is that I believe that if I mingle too much, they might mislead me. I’m just myself.”
As a 16-year-old girl today, Bolanle said she has had a number of people of the opposite sex calling for her attention.
“I have seen many ‘toasters’. I tell them that I don’t rely on anybody’s money. As long as I have two hands and two legs, why should I rely on your money?”
As she hopes to further her studies, she also wishes for proper guidance along the way. “I try to correct myself by observing and learning from people’s experiences. But I wish I had someone who would mentor me along the way.”
Speaking about her daughter’s foray into welding, Mrs Rukayat Fatoki, told Nigerian Tribune that it came as a surprise, but now she is happy about it. “We don’t know how things will be in this country in future. I am happy she has a skill that she has required ahead of time,” she said.
Mukaila Adebayo Bello, an electric welder, praised his apprentice, Bolanle, who has been learning the craft for over three years. Bello stated that since she began her apprenticeship, she has since shown great dedication and skill. According to Bello, Bolanle dutifully attends her apprenticeship after school every day and has demonstrated outstanding talent in her job.
“On the day she started work, I could see she is a hard-working individual with remarkable energy,” he added.
He emphasised her ability to manage jobs traditionally handled by men, stating, “When you see her using the saw in the shop, you wouldn’t believe she is a woman.”
He also appreciated Bolanle’s behaviour and attitude, noting that she frequently accompanies him to work sites and demonstrates exemplary behaviour.
Mr Bello expressed also expressed his willingness at the idea of training another female trainee. “Bolanle has set a great example that is worth emulating,” he said.
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