Queen Of The Road

Driving Uber came with its challenges, but driving one and looking like a Macy fashion poster girl is a different ball game altogether. Tobi Lawson defied odds by treading only where men dare, and very much alive to tell her story.

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My name is Tobi Lawson. I'm 33 years old.

I come from a family of five, and I’m the oldest daughter. I attended Mother's Joy Primary School in Lagos. Then moved to Satchel Secondary School. I was a brilliant student and at a point got promoted twice.
Unfortunately after my secondary education, my parents could not afford to send me to a university. At that time, my father had lost his job and my mum’s business wasn’t doing well. Being a girl child, I was seconded to help my mum in her shop but I was determined that I wanted to further my education. After many years of waiting and nothing was happening, I left home to fend for myself. It was a hard decision because I wasn’t a street girl. So I made up my mind to work hard and save for my education.

Long story short, in 2019, I finished from Lagos City Polytechnic with a degree in Computer Science.

After university there was no job and I tried different businesses, but because I had no one to fund me, I was barely managing to survive. Then last year, I got an offer to get a car on hired purchase. At first I wasn’t sure what I would use the car for, until I met a uber driver who told me that he is able to save close to 80k every month from driving uber. I was challenged and told myself I could do it. So, I went for the hired purchase and started my uber experience.

My experience as a uber driver has multiple effects on me. Many times even women passengers would talk down on me. Some would wonder why a fine girl would do uber when there are men who could keep me as a girlfriend and take care of me. Many male passengers would begin to toast me the moment they get into the car. Some would even ask that I switch off my service and that they would pay me for the day.

Many time I had my heart in my mouth when I pick up some wild boys. Because they sit at the back, I sometimes imagine them grabbing me from behind and trying to strangle me or drag me into the bush. It’s crazy. And I pray all the time when I’m driving. Sometimes, I try to make conversation with those who are chatty just so we keep talking and they don’t have time to think out an evil plan.

Some would offer to marry me and take care of me, and because of this I started wearing a ring on my finger to show them that I’m already married, but this didn’t help as many would still ask if I could come over to their hotels.

From what I do, I’m able to take care of my siblings especially the ones that are in school, giving them an opportunity that I didn’t have. I pay my rent, my utility bills and able to put food on the table for my brother living with me. And the significant impact that the job has on my life is that it has built my self-confidence as a woman. I don't have to beg anybody for money. I don’t have to do hook up to survive. And to the glory of God, I’m able to pay the monthly dues for the car purchase and sometimes even save money.

I’ve had some happy moment driving uber, especially when my passengers give me extra cash. A lady I once picked up was so surprised that she called her husband and put me on speaker. She couldn’t believe a woman could drive uber. That day, I felt encouraged.

Would I encourage other women to do this? Of course. It’s better than sleeping with multiple men and losing one’s self-esteem. Yes, I agree it has its risks, but tell me, which job doesn’t?