Nigeria: Ilorin sisters become unlikely vulcanisers after mother’s passing
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
In a heartwarming and inspiring story, two teenage sisters, Khadijat and Balkis Ore, have taken up the unusual profession of vulcanising, a trade typically dominated by men. The sisters, aged 13 and 15, respectively, have been working at their father’s vulcanising workshop in Ilorin, Kwara State, after their mother’s sudden passing in November last year.
According to their father, Tunde Ore, the girls had never shown interest in the family business until their mother’s death. However, after starting to help out at the workshop, they quickly demonstrated a natural aptitude for the trade. Within three months, they had become skilled vulcanisers, able to fix faulty tyres with ease and confidence.
The sisters’ newfound profession has not only brought them closer to their father but has also earned them admiration and respect from customers and the community. One customer, Mallam Nurudeen Imam AbdulRaheem, expressed his amazement at the girls’ skills, saying, “I was surprised to see them working confidently and expertly. They unscrewed the tyre from the wheel, inflated it, and patched the faulty spot with ease.”
The sisters’ dedication to their new profession has also caught the attention of local stakeholders, who have offered to support their education. The Secretary of KBC, a stakeholders’ group in Kwara State, Taofeek Ademola Mustapha, said, “We have told the father to reach out to us, that we will continue payments of their school fees from now till the end of their secondary school education.”
Despite their newfound success as vulcanisers, the sisters remain committed to their studies and have ambitions to pursue careers in accounting and medicine, respectively. They attribute their ability to balance their work and studies to their dedication to reading and learning, both at the workshop and at home.
The story of Khadijat and Balkis Ore serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of young people, particularly girls, in the face of adversity. Their determination to support their family and pursue their passions is an inspiration to all.
