Life at Canoe bus stop in Ajao Estate, Lagos state is like most parts of Lagos city. People hurry to their destinations; cars struggle in the bumpy ride on the potholed road and there are people who haggle prices at the mini-market situated close to the road.
Since the ban on motorcycles in different parts of the country, keke has become for many Nigerians, one of the easiest means of transportation because of its ability to manoeuvre the tiniest of spaces on the busy roads and the limited number of people it requires. Yet, Canoe park is overseen by Mrs Dupe Odumuyiwa, the organising secretary, Canoe section, Ejigbo branch of Transaco Operator Owner Association of Nigeria. The registered nurse, who is responsible for the establishment of the park, has an interesting story.
This promise would make her a part of the 11.7% of women occupying a board position in Nigeria. However, this promise was never fulfilled because of her gender. “Sometimes when you borrow money to start business, you return the money every week and at the end of the day, the money will finish. I don’t want such things. I don’t have the power and mind to do that so I decided to go for this and I have been using it to train my children.”
“Apart from the initial fear of being crushed by trucks, people told me that spirits drive keke at night to make me afraid. Even some Ladipo boys that we carry say that they don’t want to enter a woman’s keke because their charm will spoil while some are happy when they see us because they believe that their day will be great.”