In an inspiring story of determination, resilience, and sacrifice, a young lady recounts how her mother used her earnings as an inDrive driver to train her four children and a cousin through university.
Excerpts.
Q: How would you describe your mother in a few words?
A: I won’t say three words sum up who she is. But as a response to your question, I would describe her as courageous, hardworking, and consistent.
Q: What are some of your fondest memories of growing up with your mother?
A: There are many fond memories. But if I can recall some of them from my childhood days, I remember my mom loved to dance. She was a dancer back then. I think I still have some videos of her dancing. Whenever we went to parties, once the parents were called to dance, she would take over the entire place. That’s how we learned how to dance. She’s a bit older and cannot dance as much as she used to. This is probably because her body is a bit stiff. In a nutshell, I can confidently say that those were great memories.
Q: I understand your mother raised you and your siblings as a single mother while working as a driver. What did that journey teach you?
A: For me, her journey has taught me to be responsible and consistent. I remembered days when my mom would say she was tired and about to give up, overwhelmed by the pressure and burden, but she would still show up. She remained consistent as both a mother and a father.
Q: When you look back at the sacrifices she made to put you guys through school, what stands out to you the most?
A: I recalled that we were living in Lagos, then relocated to Abuja, but my mom wasn’t happy about the decision. She felt Lagos was the centre where she could hustle. On deep reflection, she chose to relocate back to Lagos with four children, with no plan for what to do or where to stay. We squatted with her friend for a year. This event happened before the COVID lockdown. During that year, she took out a loan and made a down payment for a car under a hire purchase agreement. Though the terms were stringent, she started paying N20,000.00 every week. After paying off, she moved us out, rented a house, and took us back to school. Now, to the glory of God, my older sister, my brother, and I are graduates. Except for one of my siblings, who is at university, and a cousin who is in secondary school, the rest of us have graduated from higher institutions of learning. At a time when she told people she wanted to be a commercial driver, there were many ‘doubting Thomas’. Some even went so far as to discourage her, saying it would be too stressful. But she decided to become a commercial driver, and she has been driving for five years now.
Q: What are the biggest lessons you have taken from her journey on a personal note?
A: For me, I think hard work, consistency, and continuously showing up without losing sight of what matters remain the biggest lessons from her journey. Even with her driving job, family was her priority. When I was looking for a job, she would drive me to all my interview venues and wait for me until I was done. Whenever I’m uncomfortable, I reach out to her. Before you know it, she comes to pick me up wherever I am.
Q: What do you think driving meant to your mother beyond simply a job?
A: She once told me that driving is the only talent she has. She loves to drive. I remember when I was six or seven, she was eight months pregnant. She drove us from Lagos to Edo State after a squabble with my dad. For her, driving was an escape from difficult realities. She also loves meeting people, and inDrive provided her with the space to do so. She’s made many friends. At one time, she even advised a man on his marriage and was later invited to the wedding. She’s helped women in abusive relationships and has had many adventures. She also belongs to the Ladies on Wheels Association of Nigeria and serves as their Public Relations Officer. I remember her saying that she would have entered depression if she were doing a standard 9-to-5.
Q: Your mother is now retiring from driving. What does this moment mean to you and your siblings?
A: She is not retiring in the real sense. The “retirement” is just to let her know she doesn’t need to drive to survive anymore. As her children, we are all doing well now, so we want her to drive for enjoyment rather than necessity. She loves it so much that she even told my sister she’d wake up early to help with the baby so that she could go out and ride for a bit afterwards. She even joked that we should bury her with the car!
Q: What does it mean to you that inDrive has chosen to recognize your mother’s journey by making a special video to tell her story?
A: You have no idea how happy I am. My mom is an ordinary person doing so much, and sometimes she doubts herself as a mother. I want her to know she doesn’t have to wear a cape to be a hero. She helps so many people through her driving and her association. I’m really glad inDrive is recognizing her.
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