It is common to see young teenage girls searching for boyfriends who will take care of their material needs, but Denis Chika chose otherwise by running her own commuter transport business in the Ikorodu suburb of Parafa-Garrage route.
The 22 year old Chika started transport business at her teenage years by working as a bus conductor with the Bus Rapid Transport of Lagos. She decided to start driving a commercial tricycle early 2018 when she was laid off from the BRT service at age 21.
She recount that life was so difficult during that time she was searching for another job. “I searched for job for several weeks but could barely find any reasonably paid job. Most of the offers I received were between the ranges of ten thousand to fifteen thousand naira, which would never be enough to cover my daily utility bills, so I decided to start a business of mine”.
After driving a tricycle on daily rent for almost a year, Chika decided to own one. She bought one on hire purchase early 2019 and now have six months to complete her payment. “Since I started working for myself, I have become financially independent. I can now pay my bills without asking anyone” she explained. Denis Chika believe that young girls who are dependent on guys for money will embarrassed themselves as the guys would not always meet the girl’s need.
She lament the delinquent act by many young girls who have multiple relationships with guys to make ends meet. Chika believe that there is no amount of cash a guy would offer a girl that she cannot make for herself. “Though it was not easy at the beginning, I stood firm and drive the tricycle along the road carrying passengers. Some people will giggle when they see me, others will peep in to see who was driving” she recount. There is no job without its challenges and the transport commuter business is no exception. She explained that some the challenges she is facing in the job include frequent harassment from Agberos (motor-park touts), LASTMA officials, VIOs and the task force agents who constantly stop them to collect tips on the way.
Before starting transport business, Denis Chika has always dreamt of running her own clothing boutique. A dream she plan to fulfill soon. According to her, she will save up some money from the commuter business to open a boutique and hopefully start a clothing line in the nearest future.
Working in a turf predominantly done by the menfolk, Chika is confident she will make her dream come through, come what may. For a girl who does not like to depend on people for money, Chika prefer to give people money. For that reason she had to take up lucrative job no matter the demand of the job. “It’s okay to fall in love with a guy, but to depend on the guy for money all the time is not ideal. A girl can earn whatever a man offer her in a romantic relationship, by herself” she said.