Riding keke had never been so easy for Hannah Johnson. Her dexterity with the tricycle earned her praise even from the male folks. Transitioning from a food seller to a keke rider went beyond doing a job, it was grit, passion, perseverance and everything in between.
---------------------------------------------
My name is Hannah Johnson, I have two kids, and the third daughter in a family of six. Growing up was tough; we had to work daily to put food on the table. Sadly, after finishing my secondary school, my family couldn't afford to send me to university unlike other kids in the neighbourhood. So I started doing menial jobs for a living. I started with food selling but had to quit when things got expensive. I became jobless until a female friend introduced me to the keke napep business, and it has been profitable ever since. I enjoy my job because it brings me happiness and more money than other jobs.
My major challenge on this job is harassment from police officers and area boys asking for money. It’s also frustrating when my keke napep breaks down on the road with no nearby mechanic. Balancing being a lady keke napep rider, a wife, and a mother is tough. Most nights I get home tired but would still have to cook and take care of the family. It hasn't been easy, but I have no choice but to endure it.
My job helps me support my family a lot. Last year, during my younger sister's wedding preparations, we planned to support her with group funds, and I contributed my part immediately after the family meeting. At home, I support my husband with rent and our children's school fees, and I can afford to give my children special treatments. Recently, I changed my kids' school to give them the best education, because I want them to be well educated and achieve what I couldn't and to be confident among their peers in life.
Happy moments in my job is when I earn NGN 2500 from a chartered service. Making at least NGN10,000 every day brings me joy. In December 2023, a lady parked beside me and gave me NGN 10,000 as a token of appreciation for my napep riding skills. She encouraged me to stay independent, praising my efforts.
I often face intimidation on the road from motorists and park ticket collectors. Sometimes, they damage my napep or remove seats if I don't pay on time. It's part of my daily challenges, and it takes courage to confront them every time . Male napep riders sometimes oppress me with shouts or insults for mistakes on the road, but I've endured and managed it all.
I would encourage other women to take up this job, but it takes boldness and courage. Riding a keke napep requires confidence and is more profitable than most jobs. It brings financial independence, allowing you to earn daily. I advise women to stand up for themselves, not relying on hook ups or men for support. Let’s prove them wrong that that we aren’t lazy; by striving for a better life. When you work hard, you earn respect in the family, neighborhood, and boosts your self-esteem as a lady. “No gree for anybody this 2024!”
Share this story:
Copyright © 2024, The Alternative Bank.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria 
The Alternative Bank is an independent financial organization in the Non-interest Banking (NIB) sector. If you receive services from, or if you have any other questions, please reach out to us via any of our contact channels. Registered address: 239 Ikorodu Road, Lagos. Financial operations on the Alternative Bank is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. License to commence operations was granted in 2014. Trading and investment products provided by the Alternative Bank is wholly owned.
We are dedicated to ensuring adherence to Non-Interest Banking principles through the appointment of an Advisory Committee of Experts (ACE). The ACE is tasked with the review and approval of all our products and processes after ensuring full compliance with NIB principles.
Find the perfect app version for your device by choosing your OS below. You will be redirected to your app store.
Abubakar Muhammad Musa is currently a Sharia Advisor and Consultant for SHAPE Knowledge Services a consulting firm based in Kuwait. He has been involved in product development, Sharia research and approval of Islamic banking products for different clients. His work covers retail banking, corporate banking and project finance deals.
Formerly, Abubakar worked as a Researcher in different units at International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Besides his primary assignments in ISRA, he taught Shariah Rules in Financial Transactions to Chartered Islamic Finance Professional (CIFP) Masters online Students of International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), Malaysia. He also taught MBA and BBA Students different Islamic Banking and Finance Subjects at University College of Bahrain.
Abubakar holds two Diplomas with distinction, one in Islamic Law and the other in Arabic Language from Al-Imam University Riyadh. He also holds LLB (Hons) degree in Shariah from the same University. He successfully completed his (CIFP) Professional Masters Degree Programme at (INCEIF), Malaysia. He had his internship program on Islamic Banking & Finance at Fajr Capital in Kuala Lumpur. During the programme, Abubakar conducted research relating to product structuring and market development.
Abdurraheem Ahmad Sayi is a legal practitioner and Consultant of over 16 years of active legal practice. He is currently the principal partner, A.A. Sayi & Co. (Qist Chambers) and Qadi, Independent Shari’ah Panel of Lagos State – a platform, through which he has delivered several judgments of in-depth analysis, widely applauded by leading legal and intellectual icons, including learned Judges, professors of law and Islamic Studies.
He is the Executive Director/C.E.O., ClearPath Islamic Centre (Incorporated), Lekki-Lagos and Chief Imam, SilverPoint Central Mosque, Badore, Ajah-Lagos. Fondly called Imam Sayi, Abdurraheem is the designate Chairman, Shari’ah Advisory Committee, Mutual Benefit Takaaful.
Imam Sayi has also authored a few works, some of which include: The Financial Obligations: a compendium of essays on monetary or material obligations under Islamic Law and Waqf (Charity Endowment): The Governing Principles.
He holds a Certificate on Improving Personal Effectiveness from the Lagos Business School (Pan African University) and he is a recipient of numerous awards and certificates of merits.
Education:
Master of Arts Law and Diplomacy, The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.
Bachelor of Arts Arabic & Islamic Studies, The University of Chicago.
Shariah Board Experience:
Bank Muscat Meethaq (2013 – 2017)
Sterling Bank Nigeria (Since 2013)
University Bank, USA (Since 2006)
Abdulkader Thomas has over 35 years of diversified financial services experience in major markets. With a Master of Arts Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and a BA in Arabic & Islamic Studies from The University of Chicago. His areas of activity have included trade finance, real estate finance, securities and alternative finance.
As the general manager of a foreign bank branch in New York, he secured the first US regulatory approvals of Islamic mortgage and instalment credit/sale as banking instruments. Later, he secured US regulatory approval for profit sharing deposits. Abdulkader has been involved in the successful implementation of these products in the US market. With more than 17years Shariah Board Experience in Bank Muscat Meethaq, Sterling Bank Nigeria and University Bank USA, Abdulkader has worked on IFTA projects in Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and an authority on Islamic deal structures and securities.
He also serves as a director of Alkhabeer Capital in Jeddah and Chairman of Alkhabeer (DIFC). He is a member of the international advisory board of the Securities Commission of Malaysia, a published author, and an active speaker on Islamic finance.
