IWD: How Resilient Women Succeed in Male-Dominated Jobs

In recent years women (IWD) had shown resilience towards career building and this had changed the narrative that women can also get involved and do many things themselves as international women’s day has been set aside to celebrate the most hardworking among them.

These women are extraordinary in the sense of being unattainable and there are everyday struggles and triumphs of women everywhere of breaking into male-dominated industries, overcoming cultural barriers, or simply asserting their right to be heard, these women have shown us that resilience knows no bounds. 

Onyekachi Nwani, a mother, is one of them who makes shoes to feed her two boys. Onyekachi who said she doesn’t like doing what women do which makes her venture into a male-dominated job.

“What made me to start this shoe making was when I was watching an interview on how a lady was driving truck at first I want to learn mechanics or barbing but my uncle did not allow me to”

Onyekachi explained how her boss was her encouragement, adviser and helper. He helped financially a lot and taught me a lot of stuff about the business and even showed me easy ways to make shoes.

The single mother encourages every woman to do something unique as it is lucrative. She advises every young lady to be independent as there is nothing outside apart from problems or the disease they transmit.

The woman cobbler who works at Ikorodu, Lagos revealed that the only criticism she experienced are from customers as some will appreciate why some will talk down on her, but she promised herself to remain strong and continue what makes her happy and feel fulfilled.

“My work gives me joy as it has been 5 years since I started working and I was learning earlier but stopped and worked for a year. I stopped then as a single mother of two boys and was experiencing a lot of challenges of taking care of the children. As I have several responsibilities to take up so I worked for a year and came back to this shoe making”, Doris narrated.