Thirty-eight-year-old Temitope Aladesanwa, a 2014 graduate of Political Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, tells DANIEL AYANTOYE how a 2023 report by Saturday titled, ‘Graduate jobseekers battle age limits, turn Okada riders,’ gave him, his wife and two kids a new lease of life
For how long have you been an okada rider?
I am from Ondo State. I graduated in 2014 with a second-class lower degree. I had that because I struggled while studying; I worked as a caterer while in school. After graduation, I went for the compulsory national youth service. After the service, I started looking for a job. But, as I told you, it was very difficult for me to secure a job. Most of the jobs requested either five or 10 years of experience. How can a fresh graduate have that? After some time, I began to have a challenge with age because, at the time I graduated, I was 30 years old but most of the companies requested a lower age.
Why did you opt for Okada riding?
There was no other option. I have to feed myself and my family. I can’t steal. The only thing I could lay my hands on was the okada. So, I went for it. There was nothing much but it took care of what to eat and that was it. Also, when I left school, I could not continue with catering because while I was in school, I got a few jobs from people and when I left, I could not get anything much and the responsibilities also set in. I did the job for about eight years before my story changed.
It was very difficult for me, mostly because of my age. It took me some time before I got admission to the university and by the time I graduated, I was already 30. Some companies were also requesting six years of work experience. And I was a fresh graduate, which was an automatic disqualification.
You mentioned earlier that you applied for security agency jobs. Why were you not taken?
Yes, I applied to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the (Nigeria) Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Police. I wanted to apply for the Immigration job in 2022, but I couldn’t because they had an age limit and I was much older than what they were requesting, even though I knew I was fit for the job. I did not want to waste my time by applying for it again.
You said it was painful being an okada rider as a graduate. What was the experience like?
It was painful. How can someone spend a lot of money on education and end up with an okada work? It is not a good experience. I am a graduate of Political Science and I obtained the degree with the expectation of giving myself and my family a better life. But what did the country turn me into? An okada rider. So, it will surely be painful? The okada job is not easy at all. Aside from the stress and the fact that I had to roam the sun all day, people insulted me and used abusive words. I was already tired of the job. It was God who brought you ( Newspaper) at the right time to interview me last year.
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They felt bad. Who won’t? How will someone go to a university and graduate and the next job to do is to ride an okada rider? It’s a worrisome situation. At one point, they told me to stop the okada but there was nothing to do, so I went to purchase another motorcycle.
What happened after the report was published?
It was a turnaround story for me. Yes, I have not reached where I want to be but I am better off from where I am coming from. When you came to interview me, I wasn’t thinking it was something serious. I thought it was just normal talk that would not achieve anything. I only spoke based on the confidence I have as a Political Science student. But when the publication came out, everyone saw it at the junction where I am known. Some insulted me and told me to go and use the newspaper to collect dollars from the President. I ignored them and continued my work. I also bought the newspaper (Saturday ) and took it home. At first, my wife was furious, asking if I was so proud of the work that I had to go out and publish myself in a newspaper and also put my picture on the front page. But we later settled it.
How did you become a car owner?
I have always had an interest in buying a car, but there is no money. Anytime I make an effort to save some money, I spend it on something else. I sincerely appreciate God and appreciate you for coming at the right time because, after I was published in your newspaper, people started calling me. My wife also shared the story with her family and I did the same. People came to my aid; they supported me with money. One of my friends in Lagos then helped me process a Corolla Camry, and in June (2023), I bought it. It was amazing how everything changed. I am currently using it for ridesharing. As I said, I am looking for better opportunities and a better job, but I have a better life now than when I was riding an okada.
What do you mean when you say you now have a better life?
Although I don’t have much money, there are no more insults, and there is more dignity and respect with this job (as a ridesharing driver) than when I was riding an okada. When I park anywhere, people talk to me with respect, unlike when I used to park my okada and some people almost mistook me for a thief. There was a time I visited the okada junction and they saw me with the car. They were already aware I bought a car but they were surprised. Someone even said I did a money ritual but I just laughed.
What are your aspirations now?
I know a lot of people are now into ‘japa’. If I have the opportunity, I will (‘japa’). Currently, the most pressing aspiration for me is to establish a primary and secondary school.
You lamented your inability to get a government job due to the age limit. What do you want the government to do about this problem which also affects many unemployed youths?
They should put an end to the age-limit requirement in both private and public establishments. There are people above the age they are requesting but who are qualified and fit for the job. Applicants should not be judged by their age; if not, we will continue to increase the unemployment rate. If you consider the difficulties in getting admission into Nigerian universities and the one-year compulsory service, many people would have gone above the age limit before they finally entered the labour market. What do you expect them to do? I plead with the government and all stakeholders to look into this issue because there are lots of okada riders out there who are graduates.
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