Acquire skills to fend for yourselves – Female auto mechanic tells ladies

A female auto mechanic apprentice, Miss Joy Makun, has urged ladies to engage in skills development to fend for themselves rather than waiting for hand-outs from men and relatives.

She told the newsmen in Minna on Wednesday that gender bias would not be deterred from pursuing her dreams.

Makun, 22, who told newsmen that her intention was to specialise in the maintenance of Japanese brands such as Toyoto and Honda.

“I know that this job is dominated by men but I like it. In fact I love the job that is why I am determined to succeed in the midst of men,” she said.

She said though across the country the job is dominated by men the few women who are involved in it as their means of livelihood are doing well.

“It is not easy to be the only female in the midst of many youthful male apprentices.

“They will tell you all kinds of things, sometimes you laugh and sometimes you cry.

“I want to succeed, that is why I go along with them in all circumstances”, she said.

She said that she was determined to later establish a high-tech automobile engineering workshop that would take many jobless youth off the streets.

“When I establish, 80 per cent of my apprentices will be females.

“It will serve as an encouragement to female youths; I want to teach them that they can earn a living from any decent job,” she said.

Makun said graduated from Government Technical College, Minna where obtained Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) certificate in motor vehicle mechanic.

She has also completed a two year National Diploma course in mechatronics from the Minna Institute of Technology and Innovation centre.

Mr Sunday Mathew, Makun’s boss, lauded the female mechanic for her commitment and determination to succeed on the job.

“Out of five of them that enrolled with me, Joy is the only female, and after three males dropped out, I am left with Joy and one young man.

“If she continues like this the sky will be her limit because she is learning very fast”, he said.

Supreme News reports that Makun hails from Maitumbi community in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger.