“My friends and family used to laugh at me when they see my greased hands, overalls and coveralls. Even my male counterparts sometimes try to intimidate me at work. But I am a go-getter. I never let anything deter me from reaching my dreams to be one of the most successful female mechanics in Nigeria.”
These are the words of Florence Iria, an ever-smiling, vibrant 25-year-old woman. She is an outstanding trainee of Empowering African Women, a learning platform that I set up with friends to enable young Nigerian women to unlock their potential through vocational training.
Iria’s family had registered her at a school of nursing, but she opted out for lack of funds. Luckily, she had a long-term dream: to become an auto mechanic. She had a passion for cars and had always aspired to be a ‘lady mechanic’, as women who work with cars are known in Nigeria.
