EDO STATE GOVERNOR EMPLOYS FEMALE AS BUS DRIVERS

The state governor surprised not a few persons, having mandated that ladies should be engaged as drivers for the state's public transport system, known as Edo City Transport Services (ECTS). When Governor Oshiomhole informed the ECTS boss, Mrs Edugie Agbonlahor, early last year that he wanted a crop of girls to drive the Daewoo Luxury Buses plying the city, she was surprised, although pleased. Without hesitation, she set to work instantly, advertising for applications. But since such a development has never been seen anywhere in Nigeria, people did not take them seriously, and this resulted in the low turnout of girls.


One other factor that brought doubts into the minds of Edolites, as Edo people are fondly called, was the fact that the advert said that they wanted girls without experience. I laughed when I heard it, and that was why I never bothered to apply. I may have got the job too, since I was qualified too , says Efemena Agbodo, a passenger at Ring Road in a voice laden with envy at the lucky ladies driving the buses.


It was fascinating to see these young women, most of them between 22 and 25 years of age, driving the long, heavy, airconditioned buses as if they were driving small cars. One of the drivers who simply identified herself as Blessing, told Sunday Mirror that though the job is stressful, she was never scared of driving on the highway. She explained that the type of training she received has given her all the confidence she needs: Initially, I would be wondering what if something goes wrong, but as time went on, my confidence increased. I can now drive without fear.




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