Several women abuse me for being a truck driver

Ms Peace Kefikebusa, a Truck Driver with Transport Service Limited (TSL), on has said that she ran into women, who abused her for being a truck driver.

Kefikebusa said this in an interview with the newsmen on Wednesday in Calabar.

Noting that being a trailer driver had not been very easy for women due to some of the risks, she explained to NAN, how some women ask her derogative questions about her choice of job.

“Some women even blamed my parents for allowing me become a truck driver, because according to them I just wanted to show off that I could also do what men could do.

“Even at some locations where I go to deliver goods, I have met women, who deliberately delayed me for seven to eight days without offloading their goods, and they will tell you “no be you say you wan do man work, when your mates dey husband house.”

“What many of them do not realise is that I love my job, and I love driving, it is a means of livelihood for me and a source of support for my family,” she said.

Kefikebusa said that she resolved not to take their insults to heart, as she had equally met some very nice women, who were very supportive, encouraged her, and made her comfortable in the course of her job.

The passionate truck driver, explained that she had also met supportive men as well as unsupportive ones, especially among her colleagues, who felt threatened that a woman was also driving a truck .

She, however , called on the Federal and State Governments to improve on the security on the road and make the road infrastructure better for motorists.

She also advised young people especially women, to pursue their dreams with determination, irrespective of cultural stereotypes, and nothing would be impossible for them to achieve.

Several women abuse me for being a truck driver

Police train 20 Gombe youths in CCTV, solar installation skills

The Gombe State Command has begun a two-week skills acquisition training exercise for 20 youths as part of its crime prevention and community safety strategy.

The youths would be trained in Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) and solar system installation skills.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Hayyatu Usman, said this at the inauguration of exercise on Wednesday in Gombe.

According to Usman, skills plays key roles in crime prevention, adding that the exercise was in collaboration with the state government and Thrive Trek Entrepreneur, a non governmental organisation.

He said 20 out of the 200 youths who have turned a new leaf would be empowered with the skills.

“The youths were members of Kalare (cult group) known to be involved in violent crimes but had voluntarily jettisoned such path and embraced peace.

“Having engaged the youths and heard some of the reasons they involve themselves in crimes. I felt the need to empower them with skills, hence the training.

“Any suspect sentenced should be given skill acquisition training before serving out their jail terms so as to help them with skills that could give them opportunity to turn a new leaf.

“Gombe State Police Command realised that crime rate in the state would be reduced to the barest minimum when theses youths are positively engaged,” he said.

Usman said the youths would be empower with skills, to become self-reliant and change their mindset towards a better society for us all.

According to him, the Command’s working in collaboration with development organisations to train over 1,500 youths in the state.

While reiterating the Command’s commitment to protect lives and property, Usman warned miscreants against acts capable of disrupting the peace in the state.

“It is better for them to embrace peace so they could benefit from this skill acquisition training aimed at making them self-reliant so that crimes will no longer be attractive to them,” he said.

Also speaking, AIG Zubairu Mohammed (rtd), the Special Adviser to Gov. Inuwa Yahaya on Security Matters, advised the youths to engage in meaningful venture that would discourage them from crimes.

Mohammed said that the state government was currently building a skill acquisition centre to train the youths.

This, he said, would ensure that they get the necessary skills to make a living and improve their wellbeing.

On his part, Mr Aliyu Babangida, the President of Thrive Trek Entrepreneur, assured that the youths would be well trained and certified to enable them to become self-reliant and make their own money.

An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Adamu Dokoro, admonished the youths to utilise the opportunity to contribute positively to the society.

Dokoro enjoyed them to have the fear of God and leverage the training to become better persons in the society.

Police train 20 Gombe youths in CCTV, solar installation skills

Microsoft to shut down West Africa operation in Nigeria

In a major blow to Nigeria’s tech sector, reports suggest that Microsoft is considering shutting its African Development Centre based in Lagos.

This move, if confirmed, would mean that at least 200 staff would be out of a job.

It would also have profound implications for the country’s technological landscape, potentially impacting job opportunities and innovation in the sector.

According to industry insiders who spoke to The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, May 7, Microsoft informed staff on Monday, May 6, of the closure plans.

Affected employees are slated to receive salary payments up until June and will continue to be covered by health insurance.

Sources suggest Nigeria’s challenging economic conditions likely played a role.

The closure appears to affect only the ADC’s West Africa operations in Nigeria, not its East Africa facility in Nairobi, Kenya.

Microsoft launched its $100 million African Development Centers initiative in 2019, establishing facilities in both Lagos and Nairobi.

The Nigeria centre employed over 120 engineers upon launch in 2022, growing to more than 200 total staff members.

Microsoft to shut down West Africa operation in Nigeria