Breaking Barriers: Female Pilot & Lady Mechanic | OffAir Show S9 EP9

Breaking Barriers: Female Pilot & Lady Mechanic
 Women in Aviation & Auto: The Real Struggles and Wins
 From Cockpit to Workshop: Two Women Defying the Odds

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Captain Imoleayo Adebule of Aero Contractors and Oluwatosin Ajayi, famously known as The Lady Mechanic, as they share their journeys breaking into male-dominated industries.

From the realities of pilot training to the challenges of being a female mechanic in Nigeria, they open up about navigating bias, handling criticism, and proving themselves in spaces where women are often underestimated. The conversation also dives into the cost of pursuing these careers, the stereotypes mechanics face, and the unexpected dynamics between women in these fields.

If you’ve ever dreamed of doing something unconventional or felt limited by societal expectations, this episode will push you to think bigger. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more real conversations.

00:00 Introduction
 01:27 Shout-out To Plato 
 01:52 Fan Mail: Feeling Left Out
 14:29 Meet the Pilot & Mechanic
 15:53 Their Career Journeys
 24:53 Pilot Training
 31:06 Dealing with Male Ego
 47:56 Facing Challenges
 1:07:37 Women vs Women
 1:08:06 Cost of Training
 1:10:36 Mechanic Stereotypes
 1:22:53 Advice for Dreamers
 1:28:20 Moniezone By Moniepoint
 1:31:04 Outro

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

The density is changing, the medium to which we're traveling, the density is changing. So also would come a bit of thin. And um there are also some clouds, the rain-bearing clouds or the um thunderstorm clouds, cumulus clouds, or cumular nimbus, as we'll call it. Um these clouds have a lot of activity. That thing we're taught in school, in science, where the sun comes out, picks up uh dries water, evaporation, condensation, and comes back in. So literally all the activity is going on, and you're trying to fly through all of that. So it just sends you up and down a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

If you're using a car with electronic steering rack, you avoid flooding areas.

SPEAKER_03 0:39

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

So it's not do you know.

SPEAKER_03 0:42

Do you know why I'm laughing? I wish you'd told me this a few weeks ago.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Uh oh.

SPEAKER_03 0:47

Because my car, that's exactly what happened.

SPEAKER_04 0:58

Welcome to the best podcast in the entire world. Yes, I said it. My name is Baby.

SPEAKER_03 1:05

I'm Tools. Hey, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_04 1:09

Welcome to Offer with Bemi and Tools. We have a packed episode for you. I'm very excited about this episode. I'm always excited about every episode, but this is a good episode because we're going to be speaking with women who are in men and male-dominated uh fields. We're not going to tell you who they are yet, but we're going to get into it. But first of all, a big shout out to our friends at Plato.com. Shout out to them. Shout out to them.

SPEAKER_03 1:31

No food for you. No food for you. No food for that. Wasn't you know. Food prefect.

SPEAKER_04 1:37

Yes, yes, I'm going to make sure that you check them out at orderplato.com. Check out their website. You can order all sorts of things from salads to desserts to pizza to shawama. Everything on that website. Check it out. orderplato.com. Now we've got fan mail. We've got fan mail. Let's get into it. Let's get into it. It's a little bit, it's a little bit okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:59

So I'll I'll I'll get into this, right? Okay. Um, okay. Please keep me. Hi, give me a tools. Please keep me anonymous. Some of some of the friends concerned. In this dilemma, also watch your show. Um, okay, thank you so much. Thank you. You're both like big sisters. I never had. Um, straight to my dilemma. I'm in a friendship group with my girls from secondary school. Bear in mind that we've all been friends since boarding house days in high school. And over the years, oh, sorry, and over the years, the friendship has blossomed and survived the various seasons of our lives. We have a WhatsApp group where we gist together, gossip together, pray together, share memes, share life updates, and basically just keep up with each other as everyone is now in different parts of the world. The last time the five of us were in the same place together here in Nigeria was in 2019, before some of us started relocating. Now there are just two of us left here in Nigeria, and we both even live in different cities, so we hardly ever see. However, the friendship between the five of us is still flourishing. We are all in our 30s, by the way, 33 and 34 year olds. The issue here is that I'm beginning to feel somewhat left out in this friendship group, and it make and it's making me feel really sad for myself. Here's what I mean: all my friends are married, they all have kids and are growing beautiful families with their respective partners. All seems to they all seem to be doing well in their chosen endeavors. I, on the other hand, I'm not married, no kids yet, still live with my family as I cannot afford a decent accommodation of my own for now. I have a job, but I don't necessarily necessarily earn decently in this present-day Nigeria. Our WhatsApp group that once used to be my happy place where I couldn't wait to connect with my friends and enjoy good laughs, has now become a reminder of all that I am not and I am yet to have. All that the other girls now constantly talk about is their kids, their husbands, their vacations, um, the vacations they took or are planning to take, the money they're making, basically all the things that are yet to happen to me. I also notice that now, whenever I bring up a subject, the engagement or participation is minimal. But once any of the other girls bring up how their kids um did this or how their husbands said that, everyone starts to actively participate and the chats are endless. It now feels like I'm constantly left out and have nothing to talk about as no one seems really interested in my boring rants about my job or my boss. Sometimes when they go on and on talking about their kids, I also have to be forced to speak about my niece so I'm not left out. Um, and just so I also have something to say. A lot of times all I do now is just read the chats and don't engage. Please note that I do not in any way hate or envy my friends. We've shared so many beautiful memories together. I celebrate their wins with them and offer comfort whenever they're going through anything distressing. I also understand that growth is happening for them and I have to accommodate that. It just hurts that our friendship dynamic is changing and they're not truly trying to accommodate me or make room for me in their growth. Do you think I should bring this up with them, be vulnerable with them, and just explain my current state of mind and how I'm feeling with them? I've thought about sending a voice note to the group chat several times just to explain in details how I miss my girls and how I have been feeling left out, but I I don't want to be misunderstood. How would you advise I go about this? Would be waiting to hear from my internet big sisters. Drink someone. I'm sure your mouth is dry. We shall not lead you astray. Yes, that was a bit of a long one.

SPEAKER_04 5:24

Okay. Um, thank you for writing us. I would say that um if these are your true friends, you should bring it up to them. And um you can maybe arrange like a group call and say, guys, I'd like to talk to you guys about something. Maybe on someday at some time, everybody get together and you get on the call. I mean, WhatsApp allows that and you have this conversation with them. And, you know, like you explained, say you love it that you know you are excited for them. Their lives have, you know, they have families, they have vacations, they have husbands, children, and stuff like that. But you would also like to feel heard too. In fact, they should be trying to live vicariously through you as the single friend. Hey, what Notter did you go on a date with now this time? Ah, now wow, what's going on? That's what, like, in my friend group, we're all in different um seasons. There's some of us who are married, there's some of us who are single and don't want to get married, there's some who are divorcing, there's some, and then the gist, the the single people is like, oh my, what's happening in the streets now? Give us gist. And we live vicariously through them and be like, oh my god, this guy did what? This guy said what? And we don't try to, you know, um keep like leave them left out, basically. Your your your life is just as important, whether you are married or not, whether you have children or not. Um I have friends who are doing very well, building houses, buying houses, doing great things, and um I celebrate them. I think that as a person also, you should also take note of that if for those of you who are watching or listening and try to um celebrate your friends, whether or not they are at the same level or of life that you are. I find that sometimes people do forget their friends, especially if they don't have like they're not married or they don't have kids. People kind of just, you know, it's almost like whatever you're doing, whatever's you've got happening in your life is not as important as. And so you should be conscious of that when you have single friends, yo, what's up with you? How's how's everything? What's going on? And it's not a case of, oh, I'm pitying you or I'm married, so I'm looking down on you. It's a your life is just as important whether or not you have a family.

SPEAKER_03 7:31

Um, okay, I agree with what you were gonna say, uh with what you said. I will say this um friendships, I believe, go through different seasons. Um, there are times when, I mean, I I have a group of friends that we knew each other since we were like 16. We've done the whole traveling together, going on like crazy vacations and it and things, you know, things change. Um my friend, my good friend that was on the show, uh Bolla, she had her, she got, she got married before I did. She had her kids. Um, and I have to be honest, because the nature of our friendship before that, we were like going out, or what are we doing this weekend? We, you know, we've done crazy things like good up, which I just read party. And then she had she got married and then she had kids, and things slowed down. And obviously the subject um of our conversations was really like her kids a lot. And it wasn't like it was it was different for me. It was different for me. And I was like, okay, this is different. How do I handle this? Then when I became um, when I got married and I became a mom, and I realized that in terms of the way your brain changes as a mom, like literally, especially with your first child, that is all you think about. You that's as you know, I literally went from, oh, where are we going tonight to did he poop? He didn't poop today. What time? Did he all literally? So your conversation has changed. So I think you need to also give them that grace because you know, being, you know, getting married, having kids, it's a big, big thing. So give them that grace. But I still feel definitely have that conversation with them. I think it's important to have that conversation because if not, you will soon um I mean you've already started to kind of almost distance yourself from the group, which isn't which isn't good. So have that conversation and it shouldn't be from a point of, you know, oh look at me, your poor friend, I'm not this. Just like, look, I miss where we were. I miss the fact that we used to, you know, do this, we used to like go on crazy vacations. You should actually be the one, you could be the one that reminds all of your friends to live their lives in the very, very best way. So you could be like the ginger friend, like, okay, fine, you've been, you know, it's summer holidays, or you know what, drop the kids, um, get your husband to like um either look after the kids himself or drop the kids with grandparents. Let's go on a girl's trip. Because I promise you, within in that first year, I could not think about putting together a girl's trip. I just couldn't. I it just wasn't, my brain just wasn't working that way. So you could be that person that just keeps the essence of your friendship alive.

SPEAKER_04 9:58

She says she's not really anywhere like that.

SPEAKER_03 10:00

She's what? She's not really anywhere like that. It doesn't, but you don't have to.

SPEAKER_04 10:04

I mean, I don't feel it can you can be going towards girls.

SPEAKER_03 10:08

I don't feel you need to like, oh everybody, let's go to Vegas. It could just be like a nice girl's trip to Ghana. Because sometimes, honestly, um, as a mom and as a wife, sometimes you forget that you need those things. Sometimes you forget that you need to. You know, yeah, you need to just chill with your friends, have like wine, gossip, or remember when, or remember that useless guy that you dated, or remember how you almost did this. Those things are so, so, so important. And I think sometimes we forget how important that is. So I think that could be your role. What you're feeling is completely understandable. I think a lot of people have gone through that where they kind of feel like a little bit left behind. Um, I don't think you should feel left behind. I think you should just realize that the seasons are changing for different people. I'm I can't imagine that all of you expected to get married and have kids at the same time. Some for some people it's gonna happen before, some people don't want it. Some people have no, you know, um interest in it. For some people, it's gonna happen later. So just accept that that is life, but really try and keep the true essence of your of your friendship. Being having a group of friends that have been friends for a while is not easy, it's not easy. And you do you did and you said that you, you know, it seems like you still like everybody, everybody still likes you. So things like this, you have to work at it.

SPEAKER_04 11:24

There's a Yoruba saying that says 20 kids cannot play together for 20 years, something like that. It has many many different meanings. It could mean that your friends will change, it could mean that you guys are gonna be in different seasons at different times. These ones that you even said they're all married, give it 10 years, and I'm not swearing for anybody. What have you noticed something in your 40s? It's like a lot of people are getting divorced. Yeah, that is wild. Like, so you know, so different and you you come you go through different stages. There's a stage of, oh, we're all going to this person's house for Ashwabi. Uh, um, we're gonna we're buying Ashwabi here, and then there's a stage of, oh, well, you're all you know getting married, or and at different times, there's a stage of ah, this one and her husband are not together again. There's a stage of she's remarrying, okay. You know how many second weddings I've gone to? So, my dear, don't worry about it and don't look at their them having husband husbands and children as a mark of success.

SPEAKER_03 12:15

Because listen, we're not even gonna talk about that. Yeah, what I'm more concerned about is if your friends are doing very, very well financially, I think rather than you know, worry about this, you need to think about how they can help you like level up financially as well. I always think that if you have a group of friends, there shouldn't be that you shouldn't really all be earning the same thing. But some someone, if somebody's earning like a lot and you have somebody in the group that's really, really like not struggling, you cannot be friends with somebody and not try and like help them, even if you are in different industries. I feel like as a group of friends, you should know your strengths, you should know your weaknesses. And if I'm like freaking earning this much and you know you're struggling or whoever is struggling, I feel like it's my duty as your friend to kind of just see how I can help you out. Unless you're like a it's not necessarily saying this with finance or no no no not give you money, not I don't believe I don't believe in that because yeah, I'm not your sugar daddy. Um, but no, no, give them when necessary, but I should not be I'm not the constant source of income, yes. But I should I I feel like you should help your friend level up.

SPEAKER_04 13:22

Yo, I saw this uh I saw this application, though, I saw this opening, no, I think you'll be good for the position, that kind of thing.

SPEAKER_03 13:28

Yeah, my my my group of friends um that you know we grew up together. One of the things that I love that we did was um when we were we started working like 14-15 or whatever, but when we were in um college, so you had so back then it was college, you did two years of college, then you went to university. So we all like um wanted to work like during the weekends, and we literally would so then you'd have your CV printed out and you just go to like um all the different retail stores and everything, like I'm looking for a job, I'm looking for a job. So we used to go out together till everybody got a job. And it was like okay, I heard about this, I heard about that, and it was so important um for us to make sure everybody was okay. You, what are you doing? I can't have a rubbish friend. You didn't go to you didn't, you didn't go, uh you haven't gone to like um your classes for a week. What's going on? Why? What's happening? This rubbish guy that you're dating, what's going on? Is it you know, so I think that's all part of it.

SPEAKER_04 14:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:20

I hope that was good advice though. Good luck, good luck.

SPEAKER_04 14:22

Yes, yes, yes, yes, girl.

SPEAKER_03 14:23

Good luck, good luck, good luck.

SPEAKER_04 14:28

We have our wonderful guests in the studio. I'm super excited about this. This is an episode that we've wanted to do for a while. Welcome.

SPEAKER_03 14:58

And to my right, we have got Captain Imole Ayo.

SPEAKER_04 15:03

Welcome.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

Of I can say of arrow. Yeah, yeah. Yes, yeah. So I was saying before, technically she's my husband's boss.

SPEAKER_04 15:10

Oh, nice, nice, nice. Welcome, ladies. It's so good to see you in uniform.

SPEAKER_03 15:14

I love it. I love it. Although, although I did tell Captain Imole, I want the blazer, the cup, the e-bits, and everything. Welcome. Just you know, yes, now if I was a pilot, I think even when I was when I'll go grocery shopping, I literally would just pilots, yes, yes, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:38

But welcome, welcome, ladies. Um, both of you are here because um you are in both in male-dominated um professions. Yes. Um, let's start with Tosin. How did you even get to become uh a mechanic in the first place?

SPEAKER_01 15:54

Um I believe that that's what we just said. So when I was growing up, I used to love I was very um inquisitive and always curious to know why something broke down. And I believe that it was something that went wrong. I think it was okay before went wrong. I believe it's okay too much. So and I love cars so much. Oh my gosh. I so much love cars um a means of transportation that can also be fanciful, use a sport, everything, everything. So yeah. And then at some point in life, I managed to put it together my love for repairs and cars, and yeah, I am in dirty.

SPEAKER_03 16:58

And what did your what did your family say when you told them this is what you wanted to do?

SPEAKER_01 17:02

My mama no green, even my papa safe. He said, Nah, boy, I'd if I go wait, wait, wait.

SPEAKER_03 17:11

They said you wanted to be mechanic because of a boy.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Yeah, the in his words, but she mechanics. What do you want to go and do there?

SPEAKER_04 17:20

For those who don't understand, it means where have you ever seen a lady mechanic? Oh, it's because of a guy that you're going to. Was it because of a guy?

SPEAKER_01 17:27

No, technically, no, you know, this is our African parents with especially that my father.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

What's going on here?

SPEAKER_03 17:37

But now he's very proud of me. When did that change happen?

SPEAKER_01 17:43

When uh the name Lady Mechanic, Lady Mechanic was everywhere. Right now, if I call my dad, hello Lady Mechanic.

SPEAKER_03 17:51

That's that's actually when you know your parents are part of it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 17:54

What about you, Captain?

SPEAKER_02 17:57

My journey to becoming a pilot started um back in Zaria, uh Kajuna States. I very similarly out a curious mind, or still have a curious mind, and I had wanted to just uh become an engineer, and that was basically what took me into aviation, and there I found flying. So, and basically there's like a quick summary of how it was. What did your family say? Um, so interesting for me, my mom, because she's into transport, which in the north is also a male-dominated um field, and uh initially she was very cool with it. She was, oh yes, yes, go for it. And then come 2005-2006, there was some crisis in the industry, and that was basically the point where everything changed. Our support just turned into a no. She did everything she could to stop me, cried and the rest of it, but I just told her then that I'm in it, I'm in it already. There's no stopping me. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 19:06

Now, to get to the level that you both are, you're both experts in your field, you had to do some training. So, Oluatosi, can you tell us the training that you went through to become the lady mechanic today?

SPEAKER_01 19:18

Okay, so I started learning when I was in SS2. My mom used to um she still loves our children having a skill, like one skill or the other, because she didn't have the opportunity to have skills. So immediately we everybody else had SS1. She'll tell you, go and think of what you want to learn. So my sisters said they wanted to be fashion designers and me marriage. Like I wanted to learn that was not even it doesn't have anything to do with what I wanted to be a fusion. I didn't know I was going to be a fusion. I said I wanted to learn mechanics. And everybody just laughed. Like, what's funny? Mechanics, we walk. So he said, Well, you are ready, let me know. And when they saw that I was serious, what do you what do you think you can do in a male-dominated field? Like basically, men, they don't have females. They'll be the first person. This is what I want to do. So it was my auntie that eventually registered me as um better.

SPEAKER_04 20:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 20:43

Because my mom and dad left for them, I will not be here today. Yeah, no, it wasn't. It was my auntie that sold out. Yes, I would then I started training. My boss was very welcoming, very encouraging. I do not buy food for anything. I do not buy, I do not buy red and being. They are the ones that will buy for me because I was my boss's small baby again. Anything my boss eats, I eat. If he eats a father, you ask him to buy for me. If they want to go and buy food for boss, if they ask them to buy my food. So I mean, those were part of the training. Now, no senior will ask one junior to go and get something or get it yourself.

SPEAKER_03 21:29

So uh so let me ask this: even though he was quite welcoming, did you have other people like when you were training that felt like you shouldn't be there? And how did they treat you? Oh, please feel free. But I feel I feel like you gave them back.

SPEAKER_01 21:49

Then there was a man I told her when we were sitting outside. Because then I was very slim and very bossy. So it was this man that came to my workshop that day and he was like, should I say it's in your bumble in the bugle should be moto below?

SPEAKER_03 22:09

Oh how do you want to look into how do you how do you want to get under how do you want to get under the cover with the luggage on your chip? The baggage on your chin.

SPEAKER_01 22:20

I was like, I felt somehow, and immediately I was just like uh kinny jack you have I will jack it till I'm able to enter with my airway in his words. So I was like, okay, I was watching, and then you know, challenges like that. I've had people like, you better go and look for something else to do. You this is not child's play, okay, sir. No problem, sir. So yeah, I've had lots of challenges, lots of discouraging words. But for me, even from my um schoolmates, then when they are coming from school, because I at some point stopped extra lesson. So when they are coming from school, I would have closed before them. When they are coming from school, they will see me I will laugh with them because it's funny to you. Your laughter is funny to me. Me, I'm living the life of my head. I don't know what's funny, so yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:17

Okay. And do you have you had a situation where um maybe somebody brought their car to be repaired and they saw you and they were like, You, you're the one. And they kind of were reluctant, but you ended up proving them wrong.

SPEAKER_01 23:30

Yes, that was when I was still working under my bosses because I have um three bosses. My first boss, I have another bus um in AKT. That was when I gained admission to EXO and I had to enroll myself in another workshop. Yes, another workshop that um is like standard, they have diagnosing tools and all that. So, and another bus in Ode Ijoko. Yeah, that was where I learned diesel engines, okay. All these Lagos LT buses. So, yeah. Um but after like after I finished learning, you know, most of my clients are always from Instagram. So they already know that's a good idea. They already know that you're they're coming to a lady, but before then, uh go and call your boss, go and call the person that wants to fix this car. It can't be you, sorry it's me. You know, I suppose I go just read. Now me. I beg, just let me do it. You'll be impressed, and yeah, they're always impressed. So I get referrals, they get they even have to ask that let's be that lady that will come out.

SPEAKER_04 24:49

All right, what about you, Captain? What was the training like to get to this point?

SPEAKER_02 24:55

Um so I finished uh secondary school, and in the process of waiting to get into uni was when um I got to know about the aviation school in Zaria. And I said, you know, let me try it out, see what engineering course they have to offer. And basically went in there, saw the engineering course. I was late for that class, about a month late, and um I had asked um the admin units, do you guys sell advice? I joined because the only thing my brain could think about was just becoming an engineer. And they said no, like they looked at me, yeah, I was rather smaller than this, and they said to me, You look like you would do better as a pilot. I was like, Oh bloody, not again. I I'm not interested, I just want to fix things. And long story cut short, got in there, they were able to convince me one way or the other to try flying. So I got into the school. Uh, the program ran for about a year and a half, and while in there, it's a school that has boat pilots, engineers, um, air traffic controllers, and um other support people in aviation. So it was quite a lot of people, and they used to see in do I'm not the first, that they had other um female pilots in there. Um, but the field is one is such that the number of men outnumbers women by far. Um, so most times where they see women is in terms of other trainings like flight attendants and the rest of them, and then me doing all that, coming out from school, getting into the field, quite interesting. So it took about a year and a half and then finished all that and came into the field flying.

SPEAKER_04 26:48

Wow, like you said flying commercially after a year and a half of flight school.

SPEAKER_02 26:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 26:53

What was your first flight like out of flight school?

SPEAKER_02 26:57

Out of flight school. So once you've had a taste of flight and you you understand the science, it's um it's basically the same, but now the the machine just differs. One you're in a smaller machine, the other one you're in a bigger aircraft. Um, so yes, that was basically it. But my very first flight was actually a training flight, it was like an assessment on getting the job. Yeah, so there were nerves, and my brain was literally, you know, that meme where you see like your brain doing calculations, calculations and everything. That was basically what my brain was doing that day, if I remember. I I still remember it clearly. I was like, um, where do I start from? What am I supposed to do right now? And I was just looking and then take a minute, deep breaths, and then everything came back because it's still basically the same thing, just in different spaces, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:53

Um, so I imagine, I imagine that you have in the past and you probably still have situations where maybe you know passengers are boarding and then they see you and they're like, you so I'm sure it's happened to you many times. And I find that also because you're quite petite as well. So do you find that that adds on an extra, like, ah, are you sure you can do this? And you've been flying for like a long, long time. So, when was the first time that happened when a passenger saw you and was like, Wait a minute. Or heard your voice.

SPEAKER_02 28:27

So, the interesting thing um regarding my voice, I think people would hear my voice and expect someone different from what I look like. And I this reminds me, I got I did um like an assessment of an aircraft and I had spoken to the people. I had to go to Eckett to do it. I had spoken to the people over the phone, told them exactly what I would need upon my arrival, and everybody was like, Oh yes, ma, yes ma. When I showed up, they were like, Um, the person we've been talking to on the phone, I was like, and the money said, Well, yeah, the voice is the same. I was like, Yes, it's me. Don't mind the loop, but it's just me. So, yes, there's been that, and um, speaking to this, if I remember, probably because I started off on the dash eight, which used to do a lot of oil and gas um operations for hero. So we were usually shortly in the worry binning route. If I remember, it was on one of those routes that's the very first, and it was like, small girl, now you go fly us. I was like, I'd work stuff.

SPEAKER_04 29:31

How do you even reply that?

SPEAKER_02 29:32

Yes, so I just looked at them with almost a blank face of are you referring to me or someone else? And I just smiled and I walked and and then at the end of the day, ah, women they fly. You're more small to thank you, and then they woke up uh the aircraft.

SPEAKER_03 29:48

So yeah, women they fly. And does does that does it still happen? Absolutely, yes. Yeah, yeah, and you have been you've been a captain for how long now? Um 11th year now. So even after 11 years of being a captain, you still have passengers that see you and they're like, wait, you can do this. Absolutely, yes. And so, how do you handle it now?

SPEAKER_02 30:11

Um, now I just wear a smile and then just wave at them. Sometimes you get the curious ones that would want to engage you, and then we talk, and they're like, Oh wow, so you've been doing this for that long and everything, yes. Other times you find people go, Oh, it's my first time ever in Nigeria seeing a woman pilot. I was like, Yes, there are quite a lot of us.

SPEAKER_04 30:35

I was going to ask, that was gonna be my next question, actually. Like, approximately how many female pilots are there in Nigeria? I know you've not met everybody, obviously.

SPEAKER_02 30:42

Yeah, um, so I would love to say um we have a group that where we try to pull ourselves together on, and I think on that group we're getting over 800. Oh. But now we're spread out, not just within Nigeria, some are flying outside Nigeria, but we're over 800 on the group.

SPEAKER_03 31:02

Wow. And how do both of you deal with um so I imagine obviously working in a male, you know, dominated industry, um, with regards to your interactions, I imagine that you probably do have to interact with maybe people that you are superior, men that you're superior to that do not handle that kind of authority very well. So, how do you take it when when you have when you're working with um somebody that you're their senior, you're their superior, because but because you're a woman and they're a guy, they just don't they they cannot accept it.

SPEAKER_01 31:41

Actually, I've not really had that kind of experience. Do you hire only women? No. Right now I don't even have any women working with me. Because she wants to say it, but she's like, let me just don't package, say it, say it, say it too. Let me say, um, the way we present ourselves matters. I mean, that takes a box for them, and you know, they just find that respect from the corner, even if you don't go reach their belly, they will find that respect and just maintain it. So um what works for me is the way I present myself at first, so that goes a very long way. I've I have um let me say I've trained um eight men successfully.

SPEAKER_04 32:41

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 32:42

Since I started practicing fully. And most of the time, my training, I use like air for them when we are speaking in Europe.

SPEAKER_04 32:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 32:54

I approach them with respect and they do the same.

SPEAKER_04 32:57

Okay, even if they're younger than you are.

SPEAKER_01 33:00

Most of my trainees are always older than me.

SPEAKER_04 33:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

I mean, all of them are older than me. Okay. Apart from like small boys that are just late that just want to live. You know, most people they want to travel out, they just want to have the basics of the job. They like want to mostly travel out. So I have married men, men that are well to do, sir, pass the spanner.

SPEAKER_04 33:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

So that's how it works.

SPEAKER_04 33:34

Are you married?

SPEAKER_01 33:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 33:36

Okay, so when or when you were a single woman and you would tell guys maybe who were trying to talk to you, and they would say maybe they meet you outside of work and they don't know what you're doing, what you do for work, and you say, Oh, I'm I'm a mechanic, what was the reaction?

SPEAKER_01 33:49

Are you serious? Let me shake you. Like I was when I was coming. One police officer was like, Let me shake you first before I know what to say. Why? He said, This is your soft hands. How are you doing mechanics with this soft hands? And I was like, I'm a mechanic and I'm a lady. I don't forget the fact that I'm a lady. So I take self-care seriously. That's why I think moisturize.

SPEAKER_03 34:12

Moisturize. Do you find uh again? This is for both of you, do you find that um the pressure is sometimes a lot more for you because you're a woman? Like, for example, now I've had issues with you know mechanics where I'm I mean, I don't really know much about cars, I'll be very honest. Um, but something is has it needs to be fixed, and you take it to the mechanic, and not only do they not fix that, they've broken something else. So do you find that, and people just say, that's how it happens, that's how that's how it happens, but do you find that when it comes to you because you're a woman, those kind of mistakes are not permitted?

SPEAKER_01 34:51

Yeah. The reason is that um, like I said earlier, most of my customers come from Instagram. So I'm always very careful. People that work with me, they know that if you used to do that outside before you start working here, immediately you start working here, you don't do that. We we cannot be perfect all the time, and we cannot satisfy everybody all the time, but we must try to give um satisfactory results.

SPEAKER_03 35:21

So um, but the pressure is more, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:24

That makes the pressure more because you want to avoid uh dragging dragging, coming online. Oh, she's not what you think she is, and all that. Although we do our due diligence, but you see, cars, engines, mechanical parts. Last week, uh it's two weeks ago now. I wanted to change the water pump of a car, and while losing this, uh the board, a knot broke, and it broke the board of uh the oil pump. I don't know how to explain that.

SPEAKER_03 36:03

Wait me, do you know what she's talking about?

SPEAKER_01 36:04

No, just checking. So this bodies like the core the the cover, the thing that covers the timing chain.

SPEAKER_04 36:17

You have made it worse, my sister. But anyway, continue, continue.

SPEAKER_03 36:20

You know, but just yes, yes, timing chain, yes. Timing chain.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Ah, timing chain, you're not serious. That broke, and you have to change the old board. But luckily for me, I had already told, like I initially told the clients that there's a sound coming from the engine, and you might have to change your weapon, which is that board for that kind of engine. So I just told him, sir, you have to change this board now because so so they are you're doing a broke it, it's not that it was already bad, da da da. Sir, it happens, so it is already bad before you don't just know. We have to change it, we have to like come to a compromise and all that. So these things are not predictable. Yes. When you fix, you are trying to fix a car and something happens, our customers will be like, ah, this is not what I brought. It's one thing I brought now, another thing is happening. We don't have power over these things, we don't have power over them. So, but we try our best to maintain balance.

SPEAKER_03 37:24

Uh, what about you, Captain? Do you feel that the pressure is a lot more for you just because you're a woman?

SPEAKER_02 37:32

Yes, yes, absolutely. Um, and this I would say, even um looking back at my career when I started and all of that, again, because there were not a lot of women, it it was it almost felt, or let me say it felt as though you needed to prove yourself twice as good. Yes, to say, you know, um, I am a professional, I am a pilot, not because of my gender or not anything, because it was almost saying as though, and this is basically coming from if we if we look back at it, coming from a time where um we add women in the in the cabin as flight attendants. And if we think back to aviation, you know, when we talk about women, we see all the peanut ladies on the posters and everything, and that was uh largely speaking, that was what the industry carried as the image of a woman, and you now start seeing women in the cockpit, and we're increasing, the numbers are increasing, and we're sitting in saying, you know, we're in here. So it was it was something that um was a little bit um of a struggle for them to accept and understand that, well, yes, the same way we have guys would have women as pilots as well. Um, so running away from wanting to be labeled as a female pilot. Um, so yes, there's a bit of pressure. You feel like double the pressure to prove yourself, to say to yourself that you know, I'm just um the same or I'm better better than my scared to say it's male counterparts.

SPEAKER_03 39:16

Yes. Have you ever had like a scary situation where um you're doing a flight and something is kind of sort of going wrong, and you bring down the plane safely, and then people now see that you're a woman, and then they're like, ah, now you land home. Oh, thank you, thank God, please go as that happened to you, I clapped before you.

SPEAKER_02 39:39

Absolutely. Um, and the interesting thing, now not because of the show, but real life, it was with another female pilot. Okay. So two I was a co-pilot then, and she was the captain. We're coming in from Benin, if I remember correctly, and um, one of the worst things, or maybe I shouldn't put it that way, but one of the things that we have very little control over is nature. Okay, so that day it was weather. When we get technical issues, we feel like we can manage it because we get trained over and over again about all of these things, and it's amazing the redundancy built into planes. Um, but with nature, you almost can't control it. There's nothing you can do about it. All it is is you just lean into your knowledge and try and avoid as much as you can. So this day we were coming into Lagos, um, I think about noon, and we had another flight to do after that. So we saw the weather, we're like, oh, we could make it in. Other aircraft were coming in, we're like, we could make it in before it got bad or the rain it the airport. So we came in and we're coming, and suddenly everywhere went dark like night. We were like, Oh goodness. So we looked at ourselves, she stayed very calm, and I was like, Okay, maybe this is a cue for you to stay calm. But I was saying that to myself, but by Tommy, if there were a speaker in my stomach, I would have sung literally like 10 songs. Everything went on, and we came out of it. So you could, it was almost as if you could hear a pin drop in the aircraft because it was like coming from daytime, and boom, everywhere went dark. It was a little windy, a little shakier and there. And by the time we landed, Lagos, I think that day we were the last aircraft that landed before the weather got bad and everything. When we landed and we parked, literally the whole aircraft erupted into an applause. And by the time they opened the door, so when we were coming in, I remember we looked at ourselves, we were like, Well, once we land, we're done for the day, we're not doing anything anymore. Nothing. And by the time we landed, we got to the gates and we saw everything. We just it was like this big relief. We came in, parked, and then suddenly there was this bust of energy. We're like, Where's our next destination again? So, yes, that probably was one um one of my most memorable flights.

SPEAKER_03 42:19

So there was an incident, um, I think sometime last year, where there was, I'm not gonna name names, but I'm sure you know the incident where there was um, oh, I can't ask you about it. But I just wanted to, for that situation, um, in terms of what I saw online, it was, oh, she's a it's because she's a female pilot. You know, they're emotional and everything. And I don't believe that's true because from my understanding, obviously, you know, my husband's a pilot, one of the most important things about being a pilot is you need to stay calm. Like I heard he told me this story once where um there was trouble on a flight, and I think one of the uh one of the pilots, he was he he started, he started um saying the Quran, and he was obviously was panicked and everything, and you know, like with every flight there's a black box. Um so because he didn't stay calm, he got into trouble. Like the flight landed fine, um, and everything, everybody was okay, but literally, because they can hear everything. So when they listened to it, it was kind of like why you aren't calm. And I need to just I need to just get your view on this because it is extremely important as a pilot to stay calm, right? Absolutely in all situations. Absolutely. Okay, yeah, and you don't want to comment on that.

SPEAKER_04 43:32

I couldn't do it because I know I know how you know you're flying, and next thing there's turbulence, and you're like, whoa, you now become born again again. Hey Lord Jesus! If I land, it's I will not do this, I will not do that.

SPEAKER_03 43:46

Like when you are on a when you're on a flight with the pilots, not not flying plane, but when they're a passenger, that shit is a revelation. More than there was there was this flight that we were on. I should have known. I should have known. Because this is like, I think this was our honeymoon. We're going to the uh the Maldives. I should have known because the pilot was wearing short knicker and no shoe. Wearing short knicker and no shoe. So I was looking, I was like, okay, this is like a you know, it's a warm climate, but at least wear you know crocs or something so we can and so we're there, and it was a seaplane. It was my first time on the seaplane. So I'm like, But this is a short flight. A short, it was like it was the end. So we just from the airports to the buttons, but I it was it was quite rough, and then the craziest thing happened. So I was the only black woman. Um, we're the only black couple, they're all these different, you know, white people, everything, and then it was um, I think it was about to rain, and it was a small plane, so it was a bit shaky, it was shaking everything. I'm looking at my husband, he's just like, you know, calm. And then the plane drops. I was like, Yeah! I was and everybody in the plane is looking at me. I'm like, you people are mad. The plane dropped, the pilot didn't say nothing to us. He didn't say he didn't say, ladies and gentlemen, didn't say one word, and then we finally landed, and I was like shaking, and my husband, like, I think he even fell asleep. I was just like, I need to get off this. I need to, it was so it was such a crazy experience that when we were leaving, so you have the option of you can take like a seaplane or you can take a boat. Clane is quicker, boat is like an hour. I was like, let's think about this boat, let's think about this boat. It's like, no, no, no, no. So it was like stuff like that. When you fly with a pilot, that's when if he panics, if he's ah, if he panics, forget it. I'll read crack. I'll read my books of everything. So anytime he's not panicking, if the plane is shaky, if it's if he's not panicking, I'm like, all right, all right, all right, we're good. Um, and I need you to talk about this because everybody always, uh not everybody, a lot of people always feel like turbulence is down to the pilot not knowing how to fly the plane properly. True or false?

SPEAKER_02 45:46

False.

SPEAKER_03 45:47

Okay, so what happens during turbulence? Because I used to think that.

SPEAKER_02 45:51

Um, so turbulence is just like I was saying earlier, it's just nature. So sometimes, uh think about it sometimes, and this is the one that gets everybody the most. Um, clear air turbulence, we call it. You don't see it, um, nothing. Um, it's just strong winds.

SPEAKER_03 46:11

You know what it really is? Spirit. Girl, please find the spirit.

SPEAKER_02 46:16

Spirit in the language, winds in our language, always strong winds, and um because now all of this, um, you get through different levels and the winds change direction rather quickly. So if it's the plane this way now and the next minute it's coming at it in a different angle. So all this just varies the dynamics around the aircraft, and that way you get all the back and forth a little bit, the jolting up and down, and that, and then the other one that um I think everybody will see. Um, so yeah, maybe passengers that are for the curious ones that are always looking out of the window is basically clouds. So, and um, I say that as though think about it as though you're walking now free, and then you have to walk through maybe um a group of people, and you have to squeeze your way through it. That's how it feels. Yes, that's how it feels. We're changing from the density is changing, the medium to which we're traveling, the density is changing, so also would come a bit of thin, and um, there are also some clouds, the rain-bearing clouds or the um thunderstorm clouds, cumulus clouds or cumular nimbus, as we'll call it. Um, these clouds have a lot of activity. That thing we're taught in school, in science, where the sun comes out, picks up uh dries water, evaporation, condensation, and comes back in. So, literally, all that activity is going on, and you're trying to fly through all of that. So it just sends you up and down a little bit.

SPEAKER_04 47:48

Have you ever so sorry? Have you ever been challenged by a guy? Maybe he doesn't know that you are okay. Imagine you're somewhere and someone's car is not starting. Maybe you went to a wedding or you went to visit a friend or something, and if someone's car is not starting, you're like, Oh, let me go check it out. Have you ever been what's the word I'm looking for? Challenged by a guy say what you have tell us about that.

SPEAKER_01 48:11

Yes, it was um I went for a friend's wedding. A friend friend, not my friend, I think. So the car that broke down was the groom's friend's car. Okay, so you were dressed in your trad, or what were you dressed like a I was wearing like um the actual gay, yes, gayly. So I went to him. Is there a problem? Yeah, the car is not starting, and uh okay. Let me check it for you. Like that was when he looked back that you know he was trying to see what's going on. And can I help her? From where? Like I'm a mechanic, I can help, madam. This one is a serious matter. We can talk later. Sir, really, I can help you. And then that was where he got serious. Are you sure you can do this? Yes, ma'am. So I checked. It was there's um a wire at the back of your alternator. So the I don't know how that happened.

SPEAKER_03 49:27

At least I know what alternator is. I've had that before.

SPEAKER_01 49:30

It does not, it's not okay, it was not properly fixed. So I checked that, and also his Kickstarter is also faulty, it's like intermittent going on and off. So I had a jump starter in my bag. I'm always having my diagnosis and a jump starter.

SPEAKER_04 49:47

That one that looks like even as we're going to a wedding. Yes, wow, it's just habits, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:54

Uh some ladies always have like plus, makeup, something something in there about me. That is what I always have remember. So the battery was already dead, so I just went to my bag, picked um my jump starter. I don't do clutches or the small buses because I know that I have bag and baggages to carry. So I do normal bag, like I'm not so big. So I went to my bag, picked the jump starter, just started the car, and it was fine. Oh my god, it was so happy.

SPEAKER_03 50:24

I hope you collected money from him. Did you collect money from him?

SPEAKER_01 50:27

I didn't collect money actually. He was so happy, he was surprised, impressed, and all that. I mean, so I was feeling flying in my gillet, it was everything. I I was able to fix the car and he was happy, everybody's happy.

SPEAKER_03 50:45

So, a question, another question for both of you. We've talked about how men treat you. How do other women treat you? Are they instantly supportive or are they doubtful of your abilities as well?

SPEAKER_01 51:00

I don't have luck with me with women. Why? Why? I don't know. I see no man into woman, so maybe that's that's just basically it.

SPEAKER_03 51:11

Disagree. What's been your worst experience with a female customer?

SPEAKER_01 51:16

The woman should me to cut for what? For what? Over a 35k job.

SPEAKER_03 51:21

Wow, and what happened?

SPEAKER_01 51:24

Okay, so what happened? She uses um Ford Explorer, yes, 2012 also. Yeah. So I've been a mechanic for almost a year before that incident. A car broke down in Kutto, a bel Kuta. She called Lady Mechanics, so I said, I'll look for a mechanic around, at least so that your car she lives in the corridor, so that your car can get to the corridor, then we'll pick it up from there. She said no, ah, nobody can touch her car. Uh she's people baby their cars a lot, like a lot. This job makes me question men and women sometimes. Uh, if we drop car, drop family, some people will pick their cars because of the way they are always so serious about cars. Yeah, they should be. I mean, it's expensive, but still, very expensive. So she said, no, nobody's touching my car. I said, if nobody touches your car, you will stay in Kutok. I mean, before I can come to Kutok, maybe weekend, I can't come now. So she found the mechanic, they checked, she said she our spirit does not go with them that she would tow the car to Ikorudu. She did, she took the car back to Ikorodu. So I went there, I checked. The problem was with the steering to Steve is using an electronic steering. So I was able to program the steering rack back to normal, but I told her that um she should be ready to get another steering rack soon if this reoccurs. Because um, lesson, free tip. If you are using a car with electronic steering rack, you avoid flood areas. Okay, so it's not do you know.

SPEAKER_03 53:13

Do you know why I'm laughing? I wish you had told me this a few weeks ago. Uh-oh. Because my car, that's exactly what happened. We entered, I was like, it's fine. The water's not even that much as how you entered the water, and then literally, my power steering just went. It was you in my mind, I was like, it's fine now because my first car didn't have power steering. You so basically it means that if you're turning right from halfway down the street, you start you start turning, you start, but this was so so hard. So, yes, that's how my whole steering thing is.

SPEAKER_01 53:43

So you should avoid flood areas. If you see that it is going to rain, just leave that car, carry another car. If you don't have another car, book it, right? Because it's going to save you that big cost, you know, electronic power steering that way pricing. So I told her, I like told her that okay, if this happens again, you have to buy another steering rack. She said, Okay, no problem. So I went after like two weeks, she called me. Lady Mechanic has done that thing again. I said, just gather money, buy steering rack. She said, I should come and try. Maybe that thing I did the other time will work again. I said it will not work, but okay, send mobilization fee, I'll come. I went there and it didn't work because you know I saw the faults. Yeah, that even that one that worked was just just yeah. So fast forward to the repair, I told her the price of the stereo. The price was 800k. So she said, ah, it's too much. This and that. I said, you can buy the parts and I'll fix it. It's okay. She said, okay, no problem. After some days, she said uh because her husband is in the UK, she said her husband wants to buy the parts from the UK. That's so they need um the serial number and all. And you know, she could not go under the card to check. She tricked me and told me that um we should come and lose the steering rack. That then she can snap and send to our husband. I said, okay, no problem. Now your money you could pay. Now we'll not work for free. I sent my boys there. And when they got there, she told them that they should not lose the steering rack. They should just have a check for that number after carrying jack. Carrying everything. Or your equipment that they needed to work. Yeah, because the car was not, it will not move because of the stiff steering. So I let that slide. That was supposed to be my sign that this woman she's up to something, but I didn't listen. As a mechanic, you must listen to your inner yeah, because you know, let's not go into that. There are lots of bad things that happen with this job. So, fast forward to she now said that lady mechanic, you have to get this terror rack for me. Um, my husband said that it will take time before the rack will get here, and I need the car and all that. I said, No problem. I even called um my vendor, I told him I price priced to 750k. And I called her and said, Ah, the vendor has agreed to 750k, even cheaper, remove 50k. She said okay, she sent the money. We I sent one of my staff to drive the car to save our cost of towing the car again. The guy is sweat in sweat and everything, carried the car to the workshop. So we fixed the car. The steering was okay. You know, when you're losing steering, you see brake pad, you see linkage, you see tie rod, and I told her that your stabilizer linkage and brake pad is bad. Do you want to change it also? She said yes, we should change it. We changed it. We delivered the car. Then, after four days, she called, she said there are some lights displaying on the dashboard. It was not there before. You were the last person that worked on the car. I said they don't start that way. We deliver no lights now. Because I was the last person that worked on the car, I should be responsible for the lights. I just said, Okay, you know, there are some privileges that used to give um long-time customers. I said, Okay, we'll come and check. I sent my staff there because then I was pregnant. That at that period, that was um 2024. So I sent my staff there. Then they said that uh it's like you have to, like, I'll have to check the car myself. They were not able to clear the code, so I said, okay, bring it to the workshop. They brought it, and I told her that let's say max two days or three days, your car will be ready. You know, I thought it was just it just needs programming. But when I got to the workshop, I tried to program, I even used bigger machines, it was not clearing, so I had to call my rewire. It now took longer, it took more than three days because my wire my rewire was not even in town, so I had to wait for him to come. It's forward, you can't allow anyhow rewire to work on it. So along the line, three days turned um I think 10 days. Then I was communicating with her. This is what is going on. My rewire is not on ground and all that. She was not having it, but I can't deliver the car without solving the issue. Along the line, she said um that she's losing money. She's supposed to, she's supposed to have made social amounts with the car, and I'm intentionally delaying her car and all. I said, intentionally. Ma, take back that word. I'm not intentionally delaying your car, it's not fixed yet. Do you want us to deliver it that way? This one now, I didn't collect money. It's still part of the 35k that I charged for service charge for changing steering rack. So when we were able to eventually deliver the car, I sent that same staff that has been going there to deliver. They got there late at night and she told him that okay, she wants to withdraw for them at PR. The guy should get in the car, let them go. And she drove my staff to the police station. Ah, detained him, said we stole a vehicle. So he was detained for three days. Oh my gosh. The following day I asked I called my dad. They said they want that lady mechanic to come to the station, but then I had um, what was it called? Uh this when you are feeling like you are in labor at five months. I've forgotten it premature. Yeah, the word. So I was given compulsory bed rest. It said, apart from just going to the bedroom to bath, don't get up, you can't do anything. So I explained to the police officer, they thought, you know, mechanics lie.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:11

So before it was that was that was good.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:12

That was good. So they thought it was just the normal line. But I there was no way I could go to the station. I called my dad, so please go for me. Yeah. So my dad, that the day I called my dad, he was not available. He called one of his friends that was in the corridor to go for him. The man, when they said no, they don't want to see any other person aside that lady mechanic. Okay. Then the third day now, my dad went there with um the father of that my staff. They both went together. So they were able to. The woman said that we are going to pay her the money she lost. She said my clients used to be a baker, a caterer. She has a cake shop. I mean, I can remember clearly that I used to go and pick the car from a cake cake shop. And all of a sudden, my client said that she used to do Uber for um diaspora people, IJGB people that so she has missed bookings and all. I'm like, why are you lying? How does it even relate? She said she has lost$600. Oh,$600 that and I have to pay her back. I said, it's not in the agreement that I'll pay you if you lose your job. And I'm trying, I'm having your interest at heart here, not delivering the car back to you the way it was.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:42

She was not having it. She forced them to sign an undertaking that we are going to pay them that$600. So my dad said, okay, we are going to pay three times. They calculated the money to Nigeria. It was a lot. I told my dad, I said, No, me. So it just they pay me for Bodhisattva. I could not go to that station. Because if I was there, no way. Might have major demolini, which is not even possible. You cannot, you can't detain us for no reason. I called my lawyer, I did. But my dad was like, uh and then my staff, his wife just goes to bed. Like, it's not the baby, it's not even up to a month. So my daddy was like, Do you want him to just keep this boy here?

SPEAKER_04 1:02:33

For all this while he was there, he was so locked up. Oh my goodness, okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:38

So and I said, Let's just sign it, let's pay to avoid trouble. I said, Okay, no problem. They signed the undertaking on my behalf. They released him and they said that another fault came up again. No, they said that they were going to take the car to another mechanic for another mechanic to certify the job that we did okay. They went to another mechanic. We even paid for diagnosing. The person said the car is okay. We just have to do something, something, something they did. The woman did drive the car for like 35 minutes, driving around Shanghai, everything. After three weeks, I saw her. I don't know if she wanted to ask for her money. I was ready to verify that. It's not even DJ. So I should call, she said if she's reversing a reverse camera that I'm showing on the screen. It's not aligning with what is in the back. I should come and check. Reverse camera now, don't join for us there anyway. Uh it's not after a week. I just got a call from my dad that he has been arrested.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:15

All this while you were pregnant, by the way. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:22

Okay, okay, okay. Arrested my dad for what they said. They called me to come and fix the reverse camera and hiding call. So now I'm going to be working for you for free because I fixed stereotypes. Sterirac is nothing is wrong with Iraq. All related issues. I went to the station, and the DPO was like, uh-uh, why was I hiding all this? Why? I was running away. I was doing this and running. This was what happened. I went delivered my um hospital doctor's report and all that. I said I should have come now after the bed rest to show up. I thought we've settled the issue. They said we'll pay, even when it's not convenient for me. So, what should I come and do again? And so, this woman said, No story, we are going to court. DPO try to resolve the case. She said no, she's going to court. This woman wrote a statement in my presence. The statement she wrote before the police officers. I I don't know, maybe maybe she has boyfriends, because that's just how that's what basically explains the power that she has over there.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:41

It was money. That's all. It was money.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:43

So she wrote a statement. And when I got to court, I said, Atheist, can I see the charges against me? I um took money under forces, guys. I said I was going to fix that. I fraudulently took money from her. She said she has um landed documents in the car and she couldn't find it. Uh apprentice, our apprentice certificate was in the car, she couldn't find it.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:19

So basically, accusing you of theft of documents and um fraudulently taking money from her.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:27

So what happened at the end? Exactly. Let's wrap it up the end. That's what I want to know. Did you have to pay the money?

SPEAKER_01 1:06:32

So we had to go to court for over a year. I had my baby. Yeah, birthday. I was still going to court. Yeah, and uh they said, where's the part you bought? You showed them. Okay. Fraudulently taking money is out of the way. They went to the place I bought the parts at Ojo Electba to confirm. They confirmed, did everything and all that. The judge discharged me, acquitted that I'm not guilty. God, that's it.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:03

Because I mean, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:07

Um case, the woman stopped coming to court. Maybe she got tired.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:12

That's wild. That's absolutely wild. So these are some of the the hazards of the job, basically. Crazy clients.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:19

So as as you as as you said before, sometimes I mean we we do different things, but we're like business owners, and I that feeling that you said when somebody maybe they just send that first message, and there's just a way they said it. I'm like, this one's good we must. So, how about you? How do other women treat you?

SPEAKER_02 1:07:39

Um, so I have been um fortunate to say um that because again, we weren't much, so we we basically had to pull ourselves together and support each other. Um yes, like the sister would. That is not to say that we do not have times when we have a bit of friction here and there or a little catfight, but yes, they've been generally supportive, really.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:05

I wanted to ask how expensive it is it to train? For example, how expensive is it to train as if you're an apprentice, you're trying to learn how to become a mechanic, for example, whether you're a male or female, how expensive is it? And also, is it a lucrative career? So, two ways is it expensive to learn? How long does it take? And then is it a is it something that you're like, yes, I'm totally I can pay my bills with this, and then I'll then we'll also ask uh a captain. Okay, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:33

So I'll start from paying bills. Yes, I can conveniently pay my bills with the job to teach, if I want to train, it depends on I consider age range, okay, and I also look if you want to jackpa. If you want to jackpa, if you want to jack by now, I'll charge you now because I know you are going to make dollars with the knowledge. Yes, now if now you also charge.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:58

Wow, okay. So how long does it take to learn?

SPEAKER_01 1:09:03

If you want to fully know the job, let's say two years. Okay, or if you just want to know how to diagnose, you don't have any business with parts six months, okay, so a year.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:18

Okay, okay, Captain, how expensive is flight school and training basically? Give us a range.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:28

So the job can you can pay your bills with the job. Um training takes about one to two years, depending on how prepared you are for each phase. Price-wise, we're looking at uh maybe you start from about 50,000 US upward.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:48

What are they charging in dollars? You know in Nigeria, just not the school not in Nigeria. Why are they charging in nigga?

SPEAKER_02 1:09:53

We're speaking, we're speaking generally. So my heart is beating, not just okay, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:58

Sorry, no vex. So flight school is 50,000. Yeah, to start minimum. You didn't say what to say, how much is this to learn?

SPEAKER_01 1:10:09

I'm not rich. So, um, without accommodation, because there are some trainings that we have to provide accommodation for. Without accommodation, 800k to one millionaire. Wow, that's for six months, but with accommodation, we factor in the accommodation for six months.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:34

Nothing is cheap, oh good lord, nothing is cheap. Okay, but why do mechanics have such a bad reputation? Some of them are terminal, because I have a list and say, God, these people must not see heaven.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:51

Yeah, actually, some mechanics they deserve it because you know when you are working on a car that came from a mechanic and you see some jobs that they did, and you'll be like, This kind of personal go send you entire heaven, you know, possible now. So, um, but talking about reputation, that one they are they are um we the younger generations are paying for the sins of our forefathers in that wise because this generation now, I mean, we are trying to um repair that image, we are trying to make the public see that we've moved from that era of trial and error. Most of our forefathers then they don't finish learning work, they just learn halfway, go, they start repairing cars. So there is no way it will be perfect because and it's not their fault. You see somebody that wants to learn mechanics, they'll tell them that five years. That's what they do then. Five years after that, five years, you now save your guy. Or guy can say you serve him for three years, can save for one year, depending on how he feels. Hey, his mood. Maybe you don't offend that before that is where they fit for you. So we don't you cannot totally blame them. They want to start making money. Some they want to say, family, and you just want to tie them down without they don't get money.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:26

Are there actual registered schools where you go and learn, you know, and then and when you finish, you have a certificate, or is every or is the whole sector like informal? Do you understand what I mean? Like, are there actually you know how people go to school for um maybe you want to be a teacher or a chef? There's a school, it's a vocational school for that, or if you want to learn how to be a designer, you can learn there's a school for that, or you want to be an actor, there's a school for that. Is are there schools for mechanics? Or do you understand? Or people who at least work with engines and stuff like that, or it's largely informal, and that's part of training.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:03

They have they are um vocational training centers, and we have um mechatronic schools, like mechatronic schools and all that, but not um federal or you know, they're just individual private institutions so they give you the certificate, just like I can issue a certificate to any trainer.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:29

I've I've got one more question, and then we're gonna do um a quick fire round. Why do mechanics not know how to say, I don't know what the problem is, I can't fix it.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:41

I don't think it has to do with mechanics alone.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:44

Different industries. Artisans, basically, in general, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:49

Artisans. You know, you never see what I was what I got with fashion designers. So it's not it's artisans generally, but I don't know why they don't say they can't fix it. Let me say, try let me try to defend my fellow mechanics. They believe that even if they can't fix it, they have contacts or someone they can call that can fix it. But this person, you cannot really vouch for the person, you just know that that is the field the person is. You don't know how good the person is in that field, but you are just dependent on the person that the person will fix it. And then when it backsfires, you guys will be at each other.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:35

That I saw in the hands of mechanics for the first few years when I moved back. I did that trauma made me seek out a brand new car. I was like, I don't want because I had like a long list. You know, when you in your phone, you have Musiliu mechanic. Uh what's it called? Uh mechanic. Yeah, this one. I'll be like this one, mechanic, and some people slept in prison though, because I'm just like this one. Oh no, but it's not, but it's not channel, but it wasn't like oh unjust, it was just nonsense, or like imagine you are you have entered uh transport or you are you are taking drop. There was no Uber then. You're taking drop, and then you see your own car in traffic. Like it's you will do jail, you will do jail, you will do jail. Uh you will do jail, okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:24

Let's let's see this rapid fire um questions. All right, so both of you have to answer one stereotype you are tired of hearing.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:33

Do women fly? Yeah, you should say, go if you fix them.

SPEAKER_04 1:15:38

Okay. What is harder? Is it the training or the job itself?

SPEAKER_02 1:15:44

The job itself, the job itself for me as well. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:49

Uh yeah, you okay. Heels or boots boots for me.

SPEAKER_02 1:15:55

Boots cross. A little bit of a heel going on here. Well, yeah, but it's still like a boot, ankle boots.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:01

Okay. All right. One thing you love the most about your job.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:08

It's red, but it deadiness.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:10

You love explain that please. Explain you like putting a hand in like Angie Noel. You like Angie Noel on your face. This is somebody that when she sat down, she's like, Oh, my my uniform isn't clean. And I'm like, I would be worried if your uniform was pristine. That means you probably never wear it. So explain the whole dirt thing.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:30

You know, um, for me personally, I don't like dirty. So, but when I have to do my job, I must be dirty. Like, you cannot walk and be clean. You follow one thing, which I follow, you go out. So, and I'm always proud of it.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:50

Okay, at least you're able to fix the thing that was so basically kind of show makes you feel like you've done a decent level of work.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:58

Okay, I don't walk today. Okay, because I'm not dirty, I'm not useful today. Okay, one thing you do.

SPEAKER_02 1:17:07

Okay, yeah, flying just gives you oh, it's in being in the skies. Yes, it gives you that freedom, like I can do anything, like go anywhere.

SPEAKER_04 1:17:19

One thing you hate about the job or don't like I don't like return jobs. Okay, yeah, like this car, I'm tired of seeing this car for God's sake.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:32

Yes, I don't like I dread return jobs because that is me working for free. For free, because if another thing comes up during the fixing of that repair job, you have to test it. Customers say we know yeah, only when we have I have I have gifts of understanding clients, although, but you know, Nigerians now, the economy go crazy.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:55

If I was gonna fix something, I'll that thing I'll fix it. The other thing doesn't concern me, you can't sort it out later.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:02

And it comes to cars.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:03

What do you what do you hear about?

SPEAKER_02 1:18:05

For me, it's um how much time it consumes sometimes and the unpredictability of the job. It's so fluid. You plan something like this right now, and the next minute something's happened and everything changes. So for me, I think that is um the um Oh, I was gonna yeah, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:25

Because because sometimes, like um, obviously, you know, um things that you do not expect, things that you do not predict can happen. How do you deal with situations like that where the passengers like um when there are delays and the passengers turn their anger to you? So explain from your point of view what is possibly happening. You were supposed to go to Abuja on a 10 a.m. flight, they now said it's delayed from 11, then it goes to 12, then it goes to 1, and you're still there at like four o'clock waiting to get on the flight. Everybody's angry. What is happening?

SPEAKER_02 1:18:57

So I'd answer the question two ways. First, as a pilot, because I do just um I also seat in, I wear two caps, I fly and I do administrative work. So as a pilot, it's um we feel just as frustrated as the passengers feel because we're meant to report at a certain time. Um, even though we say to ourselves, yeah, you know, you're going now, you yeah, your return is we understand the dynamics, but everybody makes a plan. So we also have something we want to do. Um we're just not as happy as you are unhappy that that jo that flight is not taking place as at the time it's scheduled to. Um, so when we get the beating, uh we know that yes, we're part of the service delivers. So we can we don't really get upset. So we sometimes we sit back and we're like, really? Seriously, guys, I don't think I have the party that I wouldn't banner.

SPEAKER_04 1:19:51

So you can't go, I can't go.

SPEAKER_02 1:19:53

So people, let's all calm down together. Um, but yes, you just wear that face. Like we were having the chat earlier on. That sometimes we, as crew members, we're like two-faced people, we wear a mask, and we just have to be professional and polite to everybody, no matter the drama going on on the inside. Yeah, we're welcome. We're sorry, even though we feel like punching somebody in the face, we're like, yeah. Um, so there's that, and uh, and as administrator or as someone in the office, it's actually a lot of chaos that is going on. Um, one, you have to look out for your passengers, you have to think of how best to reroute other aircraft, and this I hear a lot. Like, oh, why don't you guys just send out another aircraft? I'm like, yes, you just don't have the aircraft sitting on the ground. It's uh an asset that costs a lot of money, whether it's flying or not. An aircraft sitting on the ground is costing you a whole lot of money, so you just don't buy one and just keep it and be looking at it sitting pretty. So it's also meant to do something, and now we have to start working the joggling of this comes in here, pull the quickest one to go fill in, get these people out of there so that at least we can do some service recovery, and then you have also your own um staff that you're looking at, all your colleagues that you're looking at for, you know, saying, Oh, these guys, we can open them to this much, we need to look after them as well. And now, the big thing, the main thing that caused the problem, the aircraft itself. You're still thinking, how do we fix it? Where are we getting the part from? Is the part available? If not, where do we get it from? When is the quickest time? So, all of this goes on in the back end that is not really open to everybody, and at the same time, because the industry is so regulated, you have all of these rules that you have to be sure that everybody is working within that box, so it puts in a lot of pressure.

SPEAKER_04 1:21:50

How does your job affect your personal life? I didn't get to ask you if you're married, if you have kids, all of that.

SPEAKER_02 1:21:55

When I said time, that is what you sacrifice for being in the job, time. It basically just and because of how quick it happens, you don't even know. And you just see yourself, you wake up right now, and next days you're back in bed, you're like, ah, what happened today? I went to Abuja, I went to this, went to that.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:14

I was in Abuja, I was in Kadama, I was in Canada, I was in there. Like, like I I I completely get that because sometimes, you know, um at home when he's tired, I'm just like, but you that's like you it's an hour then an hour there. Then he said that you're like, you know what? One day she should come with you and do six legs and she'll know how exhausting it is. Mentally exhausted. It's it is it is actually, I think um the the the the time that we um yeah, you flew us, um you and him flew, um me and and the boys, and we just went to Binid. Bin it's like what 30 minutes or yeah, 30 minutes to and fro. And I was like, I'm tired. I was I was actually really tired. Uh so for people, first of all, I'm gonna get you to um give advice um to young girls that are watching you and thinking, I want to do this, and then can you give like a range of how much you could earn? So you don't have to give me your salary. But your own salary, but you can like sort of when you start, you can earn from this much, you know, and then if you've been in the game for like five to ten years, you can earn this, and so on. So, advice for first of all, advice for like a young girl that wants to fly.

SPEAKER_02 1:23:22

Um, so I like to take on opera. If you can think it, you can do it. Um and as simple as that sounds, absolutely yes. Whatever it is, um the beauty is there are no fest timers anymore. Um, one way or the other, uh that glass or that ceiling has been broken. There's that barrier is not there anymore. We've come to an age where women are literally everywhere now. So it's just for you to think about it and then put yourself, put your mind to it, set your mind to it, and then you get it done. Um also reach out. Uh that I can't I can't see any left of it. Reach out to people where get information as much as you can, prepare yourself because the job does a lot or it requires a lot of preparation. So prepare yourself for it, get into it, and where you need support, reach out to people. Even if you knock on this door and it doesn't open, it doesn't mean the next door will not open. So just keep pushing. Uh yes, it gets tiring, it sounds very easy to say, but you just don't give up. Uh, the the failure isn't giving up, really.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:35

Okay. What about you, Tossi? Advice for a young girl that's watching and thinking, I want to be a mechanic too.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:43

Okay, so like Captain said, um, if you put your mind to it, then you can do it.

SPEAKER_04 1:24:52

Stay away from men.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:57

I've been now, men will disrupt your plan, young girl. Child, men, Adam, stay away from me if you want to be mechanic, because this job it has to do with your old body. You need your old body at it, especially your back. So if Adam now don't say please now. So you might not deliver as you are supposed to, but on a more serious note, it's a big deal, and it's also not a big deal if you really want to do it. I mean, there's no job that that is not a big deal. To me, no job is easy, so just know that you are not coming to play, you are coming to work. So, work, yeah, work. But yeah, it's a field that you can actually boast of yourself when I mean you're done training, you're now on your own. Even if you are working with companies, you know, automobile companies, yeah. So it's a job that can conveniently pay your bills. You can really give life a range.

SPEAKER_04 1:26:15

We can see your nails are done, your hairs are done, well, your lashes are done.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:20

As a mechanic, you know, you can get the opportunity to work with manufacturing companies.

SPEAKER_04 1:26:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:26

That one the pay is different. It's different from you like owning a workshop and um attending to people. So if you are working with manufacturers, I can't really tell a range, but I mean they pay handsomely, you can check online. But if you want to own a workshop in Nigeria, firstly, you owe your money because you have to invest in tools, and these tools don't come cheap, subscriptions don't come cheap. But if you have all it takes, trust me. If I tell tools now that uh you want to service this your camera, you are going to pay 300,000 for it. If she says it's too much, let her get under the car and do it herself. You don't know, you don't know why it's going on. She will not have somebody to go and stay in prison. Wait, wait, wait.

SPEAKER_03 1:27:25

Yes. Wait, did you say tools as a the tools of tools? Tools as a me.

SPEAKER_04 1:27:30

Yes, it thank you so much, ladies. This is quite interesting. And you both you find you both should be you both should be very proud um of of you know your work. And I I think that you are you coming on here is definitely great because representation matters, and there are young ladies somewhere who are thinking unconventionally. Who are thinking of getting into your field of work? So this is amazing. Um, shout out to both of you doing your thing. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

SPEAKER_03 1:28:11

I think I should spend like an hour with you so I can just open my bonnet. You can be like, This is this, this is this, this is that, this is this. No, it's okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:28:25

This is Money Zone brought to you by our good friends at Money Points. Now, a quick question: Do you think that Nigerian vendors are overpricing or underpricing themselves?

SPEAKER_03 1:28:36

A lot of vendors are overpricing because yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:28:41

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SPEAKER_03 1:29:49

Yep, yep. Um, as a business owner, one of the things that I found very interesting is in terms of what your the product that you're selling, there's the cost of raw materials, there's a cost of making those raw materials into the into the goods. But then one of the things that was like a revelation to me is the cost of marketing. The cost of marketing is can be in certain cases almost the same as a cost of production. Absolutely. Because nowadays it's not just a case of oh, post it on Instagram, everybody will see it. You have to be very, very strategic with your marketing. So I know for some people that is really what kind of drives the um cost of their of their end products up. So there are things like um, you know, cost of marketing. And then if you now have a physical place, there's rent, there's diesel, there's even before you start talking about stuff. So what Money Point does is basically allows you to just see all of those things so you're able to make a better um decision when it comes to you know pricing your goods. You can see that, okay, this is costing me this, this is costing me that. So I need to make that money back before whatever I'm um earning ends up being profit.

SPEAKER_04 1:30:59

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SPEAKER_03 1:31:02

Okay. On that note, farewell. I was gonna try and sing, but my voice is uh have a fantastic, fantastic weekend. Um, make sure you stay safe and make sure you subscribe. Look into my eyes, look into my eyes, look into my eyes. Subscribe, subscribe, and like and share. Yes, share too, share, share it in your church WhatsApp group, share it in your family group. We didn't say anything. This episode was good. We didn't say anything bad. This was a wholesome episode. Yes, we didn't, you know, I didn't even curse. Oh my gosh, I feel strange, anyways. Share, share, share, and we'll catch you next time.