Mrs Mercy Atobi, a mother of two children, is a vulcanizer who finds fulfilment in a vocation believed to be an exclusive preserve of unschooled men. Her workshop is situated directly opposite the main gate leading to the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan. In this conversation with Newscoven.com, the 33-year-old Environmental Health HND graduate from the College of Health and Science Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State reveals her passion and dream for the vocation.
Vulcanizing, my choice, my passion
I started about five years ago and I have not looked back since then. To many people, my decision to be a vulcanizer was very odd. To them, there are many other female vocations like hairdressing, tailoring/fashion designing, trading, and running an eatery, among others. But I stuck with my gun!
My choice, love and passion for being a vulcanizer was borne out of my conviction that the work of my hand will surely pave the way for me in life pursuits.
Fulfilment as a vulcanizer
Contrary to the general impression that vulcanizing is a job for the poor and the unlettered, both the educated and the illiterate can go into it and find fulfilment. After all, I have an HND in Environmental Health from the College of Health and Science Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The vocation is a good one that can take one out of hunger, lack and want. No matter how bad the situation may be, a vulcanizer will surely have, at least, two good square meals per day. The truth is that if I make ₦10,000 today and finished it all, I have an assurance of making same amount back, same day.
This may not be the situation if I find myself in another line of business. I may be in the shop, engaged in buying and selling and it is possible that I will not be able to make the same ₦10,000 in a whole month. It is possible that nobody will come around to ask me, “what are you selling there”?
On the other hand, there is no way a vulcanizer, in a good location, will not make money in one day, except if the transport system has collapsed completely. But, for as long as we motorists, Keke Marwa and motorcyclists playing the road, a vulcanizer will continue to make money. So, for me, as a vulcanizer, I cannot go hungry and I will never look up to anybody for survival, by the grace of God.
Challenges
Every profession or vacation has its own peculiar challenges, but there are no serious challenges in being a vulcanizer.
What I can only see as a challenge still has to do with the public perception of vulcanizing as a dirty vocation; this is more especially of me as a female vulcanizer. Some of my new customers will come around and exclaim “oh, the vulcanizer is a woman. As beautiful as you are, why are you into vulcanizing? Is there no other job that you can do?”
So, some of them do come around to confirm if it is true that I am a vulcanizer or that I went to school at all. Some will come to embrace and praise me for being in a job meant for men. Some others will come to make fun, though jokingly. But in all these, I am not moved, after all, I remain focused on my passion, conviction and needs.
Work tools and profitability
I have all my work tools. So, there is no issue about that.
On daily basis, even if and when business is dull and we are just laying about, I still go home with, at least, ₦3,000, after all expenses.
What else apart from being a vulcanizer?
I can do and I still do some business. At least, I am selling okada (motorcycle) spare parts and oil. But that is on a small scale because there is no financial assistance to boost that aspect of my vocation as a vulcanizer.
My dream
We are now in an era where science and technology are improving, almost on daily basis. There is a machine that can remove the tyre of a vehicle or a motorcycle and fix it back. If I have such a machine, it will greatly reduce the stress of removing and fixing tyres manually.
So, my dream is to buy that type of equipment. It is my dream to establish and expand my workshop so that it is those machines that will be working, with little human supervision. That is my determination, dream desire as I look ahead into the future to find more fulfilments in the profession of my choice.
