Meet taraba first female tiler.
Her role is crucial in the construction industry. Her work include cutting and installing tiles on floors, walls, and other surfaces and interlocking. She is also responsible for ensuring that the tiles are cut and installed to precise specifications and that they meet quality standards. like any other tiller, especially her male counterparts, she use a variety of tools and equipment, such as tile cutters, trowel, plum, range, hammers, chisels, and adhesives to perform her job.
Her name is Amabel Eugene from Gembu, Sardauna local government area of Taraba State. A 29-years old, Amabel is a 400 level student of History and Diplomatic Studies department of Taraba State University, TSU Jalingo. "Tiling was not actually in my choices of career Growing up, I had three things in mind. I wanted to either be a journalist, military personnel or a civil engineer. Those were the things I've always aspired to become when I grew up." Said Amabel
Tiling wasn't her first attempt in her effort to become self reliant, she tried to be a tailor. "I spent over two years learning tailoring but I didn't have much interest in it. I was so reluctant about it. But this one (tiling) captured my mind. So I went straight into it and I do it with passion."
HOW IT STARTED
Coming to how I got into tiling work, early 2016 I was hawking. I finished secondary school in 2012 and I wasn't able to further my studies due to some challenges. So I went into petty trading and hawking to assist my mother.
I was selling moi moi in Gembu with a friend of mine whom we do hawked together, one faithful day, when I got to a construction site. The site belonged to late Maman Taraba, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan (may her soul rest in peace). They were on tiling level and that was my first time of seeing the process of tiling. The workers were not Nigerians. They were Togolese.
I stood there watching at the work not minding what I was selling. I concentrated on what they were doing. I told their boss that I have wanted to learn the work. He asked me: "Are you serious?" Then I answered him that I was very serious. He said if that's the case that I should come and learn. I then asked him, when i should start? He jokingly said "Tomorrow", not knowing how serious I was.
When I went back home, I told my mother that I was not selling moi moi the next because I had something to do. The following morning as early as 7:30am, I was already at the site fully ready to commence apprenticeship. When my boss saw me, he was surprised and asked me again "Are you serious?" I answered "Yes". That was the beginning. He gave me money to buy rubber shoes. I started work that day and he fully supported me.
After three days of consistent training, my boss decided to train me without accepting money. Unfortunately, after I stayed with them for like three months, they finished working in Gembu and were to go back to Abuja. Within these three months I was able to laid a
tiles on the wall. That's to tell you how determined I was.
After they finished working in Gembu, I was asking myself what will be my fate. Surprisingly, my boss went to see my mother and discussed with her. He told her that if she can trust him enough, she can allow me to follow him to Abuja to continue with the training.
That was the greatest risk I had taken in my life. I left Gembu to Abuja with a stranger who is not even a Nigerian. He is from Togo. I have never been to Abuja before. I followed them to Abuja and the rest is history.
WORKING IN A PROFESSION DOMINATED BY MEN
It is the best feeling so far. They will always pampered you; always taking care of you, helping you to carry heavy objects and so, it's a best feeling but I always train myself to work in their absence.
OPPORTUNITIES
Being into this tiling business gave me an opportunity to travel to many places, meet new people and learn new things. If not for this tiling job, I don't think I would've been to Abuja sooner than I did. My boss is working with a very big construction company in Abuja called BNL They handle very big contracts.
I was so lucky to meet many people like the likes of late Maman Taraba, Senator Aisha, (may her soul rest in peace) It was because of this job that I met her personality. I met with great and influencial people that on a normal day, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet them.
JOB AND NORMAL LIFE
When it comes to work, I'm totally a different person from who I am outside work. I take my work very serious more than anything in this life. I can spend two weeks working and sleeping at a side without going outside. So when it comes to work, I don't care about any other things not to talk about my personal look. I can be working for a month without making my hair and I don't care about that.
So anything that has to come between me and my work is a no go area. My work is always first and it's a priority but out of work I can be beautiful and social too.
TRAINING OTHERS
Currently I have two people that I'm training, one of them is a lady but I have other requests. I have three requests that are yet to be accepted. All of them are ladies. I have no strength to train up to five people at the same time. Because if you want to train someone, you have to take care of that person. You have to take care of them. For instance, their transportation to work, their feeding at work will all be on you. As a woman, I know it's my duty to take care of them.
I just have to accept only two apprentices as of now but I promised that as soon as I finished my studies, I will carry as many as possible. Because I so much wish to pass unto others that which is in me. Giving the fact that I learned from the best, because I always say my boss is the best. I want to pass it on to some people as much as I can."
CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
I trained myself on how to relate with my clients. Sometimes if you are not patient enough, you will be provoked by some clients. But in as much as what you are looking for is in their pockets, you have to keep calm. You can always find a way of following them, get what you want, give them what they want and everyone goes in peace.
I always have ways of dealing with my clients in such a way that at the end of the day, no one get angry. I always do my possible best to giving you what you want. As a client, I will tell you, if you want your work to be done perfectly well, give me time. I always have a way of talking to them. I have to plead with them and make them understand that in a very good manner.
I think so far so good. I'm not having issues with my clients. I always create a good rapport with them. I make them trust me.
TRAINING LADIES
Like I mentioned before, I'm currently training two people, one of them is a lady. The three outstanding requests are all ladies and they are willing to learn. By the time I finished my studies, I will definitely train ladies as much as I can. I always encourage them.
I know it's not easy but I always encourage them because I know that it pays, I know what you stand to benefit as a lady doing a job that is meanly for men. It most not necessarily be tiling. It could be anything, painting, POP, whatever you have so desires. Because without the desire of the heart, and passion, it can be very difficult for you to achieve or succeed.
CHALLENGES
There are challenges.
Combining school and work is so challenging, because I don't have enough time to work and affording some of the machinery tools is difficult and a great challenge. Life is full of challenges. They will always be there but the most important thing is what have you put in place to overcome these challenges.
In Conclusion
To the ladies, I most tell you that life is not smooth. Even what we do, it will not always be smooth. As I'm talking to you, this particular job I'm doing is not easy What is keeping us is the determination and passion for us to do something legitimate, something real, something that is not against the will of God and not against our own very body. For the money you earn through hard work as a lady, is always better than the one given to you by a man.
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Great article