Maryam Isa is 42 years old,
She has six children,
She's from Nassarawa state, but she now Basically base in Obajana, lokoja kogi state, behind the biggest Dangote Cement Company in Africa.
She has been driving Dangote Trucks for six years now.
She uses proceeds from the job to feed, and clothe her six children.
She has not recorded any accident and she plies Damaturu, Maiduguri and Lagos roads.
She's a divorcee and she's the one taking care of her six children.
I am not unaware that truck driving is men job, but I was just sitting down one day when I decided to go into driving of long vehicles because I believe that the job should not be exclusively for male folk alone.
Actually, I had tried many businesses in the past without success, I ventured into politics and I could not achieve anything meaningful for myself.
As I was searching what next to do to better my life and that of my children, I discovered that in this country there was no woman driving trailer in the entire part of Nigeria.
So, I decided to give it a try and also to break that jinx that driving truck is for men. While I was in textiles business in Katsina, I used to observe how the truck drivers move their vehicles.
I have never followed any driver as a motor girl, but through the assistance of one Mallam Mamuda Dutsenma from Jigawa state who taught me both the theoretical and practical aspect of driving a truck and within two years I acquired the skill of driving trailer and he also helped me to secure my drivers’ licence.
I have spent over 19 years driving trucks. I started with commercial truck driving at the palace of the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, whose wife bought a 10-tyre truck for me to drive. I drove the vehicle for over four years without any mishaps then I left there to join Dangote Group of Companies 10 years ago.
How did you secure the job with Dangote Group?
In my quest for greener pasture I quit my former job, then I met Alhaji Sada Ladan Beki, who is also from Katsina state, and he took me to Obajana Cement in Kogi state, where I was tested and certified by the management of the company that I am qualified for the job.
During my test, the male drivers didn’t believe that I can pass the test but to the surprise of everybody, including the managers of the company, I was successful. They were astonished when I moved a truck full of cement. The following week the management of the company assigned a truck to me.
How do your male colleagues relate with you?
I am the first female truck driver in the entire Dangote Group. My relationship with them is very cordial and they have accepted me whole heartedly. And being a woman and a new driver then, they taught me some rudiments of the job that made me to stabilize without difficulties.
Do you encounter difficulties while driving and how do you solve them?
I have never been involved in any road accident since I started truck driving but one can never rule out mechanical faults since the vehicle travels long distances.
In my case, before I leave the premises of the company I will ensure that my vehicle passes through mechanical and electrical checks. And while I am on the journey I always check my truck whenever I stopover to eat or pray.
The moment I notice any strange noise or sound from the vehicle I will park and check if the fault is minor that I can rectify it and if it is beyond me I will quickly call the attention of my office.
What are your moment of joy as a truck driver?
I have several moments of joy since I started this job. One of such was the first time I travelled to Enugu state, when I jumped down from my truck people surrounded me like bees. That day many people both men and women hailed me and even offered me gifts.
Also, the first time I drove my truck to Lagos many people were surprised when they saw a woman driving a long vehicle. Some people could not believe that I am a woman until when I came down from the vehicle. Many women came closer to me and offered prayers for me that day.
How do you combine your work with responsibilities in the home?
Though, I am no longer with my husband, we separated 16 years ago, but we had two boys. One of the boys lives with my mother in Katsina, while the other one is schooling in one of the tertiary institutions in Kaduna.
I visit them from time to time and whenever I am on my annual leave I travel to Katsina to stay with them and carter for them too. My major objective is to ensure that they acquire quality education both Western and Qur’anic so that they can fit very well into the society in the future.
Do you have plans of remarrying?
Yes, there is a suitor asking for my hand in marriage and very soon I will create a matrimonial home again. My husband to be has agreed that I should continue with my job that he likes it, and I am optimistic that the marriage will not disturb my job, neither will the job disturb my marriage. I will adjust so that the two can go simultaneously without any hindrance.
Have you brought women into the profession?
Yes, already I have succeeded in training nine women as truck drivers. Right now, four of them are working with Dangote at Ibese Cement factory in Ogun state while two died as a result of sicknesses and the other are here with me doing the job creditably.
What is your advice to women who still believe that certain jobs are exclusively reserved for men?
To me, there is no job a woman cannot do on this earth, it all depends on interest and perseverance to learn the skill. When I started learning this trade, many people openly came out to discourage me by way of advising me to change to another job like tailoring, but I refused to heed to their advice.
Today, I am not boasting, what I have acquired now as a truck driver I don’t think there is any other job that can offer me such success. Through this my career, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) sent me to United States of America for a workshop to improve my knowledge of driving, I travelled to Germany and China because of this job.
Even the premier university in the North, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, gave me an award as the first female truck driver, all of these are motivational.
Therefore, I appeal to women to come out of their houses and learn any trade of their choice in order to better their lives and that of the children.
Government at all level should also initiate programmes that can improve the living standard of women in this country. We have suffered enough in the hands of government as result of neglect
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