Adebayo* always knew he would be self-employed, so he began his work journey driving for platforms like Uber and Bolt. Six years into the business, he now owns a car and has a vision to own a fleet through the skills he's learning.
What was your career plan?
I studied social work and graduated eight years ago from the University of Lagos. I believe I chose a course I truly wanted because I love helping people, a lot. This passion has shaped the kind of person I am today.
How so?
Because I want to help people, I'm usually interested in what they do. Even though I’m a trained social worker, I’ve acquired knowledge about many other fields because I try to learn about everything I come across. For instance, if I have a friend who’s a salesperson, I’ll start learning about their work. I do this to hold meaningful conversations with them and others in that line of work.
Have you ever practised as a social worker?
Not at all, sadly. People don’t appreciate social work in this country. I’m just trying to save money to travel abroad for a master’s degree in social work, so I can practise in a country where my work is valued. Social work is highly regarded in developed countries — people even hire family social workers the same way they hire family lawyers.
When did you realise it is not the same in Nigeria?
I discovered this while I was still in school, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. Still, it hasn’t stopped me from looking out for people.
Back to your plan
During my service year, I worked at a local government ministry, but there wasn’t much work to do. After service, I returned to Lagos and got a job as a loan collector, but I quit after a few months because it was too far from my home on the Mainland and very stressful.
That’s when I started thinking about what to do next, and becoming an Uber driver crossed my mind. But I didn’t have a car. I’ve always known I’d do better working for myself than as a salary earner, so I wasn’t discouraged.
I enquired at Uber’s inspection office after doing as much research as possible. During another visit, I met a man who was planning to buy cars for ride-hailing.
As someone who loves helping, I approached him and advised him to experience driving firsthand for three months before giving the cars to other drivers. I told him it would help him understand the business and avoid being cheated.
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He liked my advice and reached out to me after a month. He’d bought three Toyota Corollas and wanted me to drive one of them. That was in 2018. I registered on Uber, went for the inspection, and began driving.
Nice! How has the experience been?
It’s been full of ups and downs. I’ve driven all kinds of people — from difficult ones to kind passengers, and even sex workers. As of today, I’ve completed 996 rides and have a 9.7 rating. It’s less stressful now because I own my car.
I got it on hire purchase and finished paying for it in 2022. This means that for my first four years of driving, I was making money for other people.
Let me tell you how I got this car. One of the connections I made along the way introduced me to a woman who gave me a car to drive. When she decided to sell it, I indicated my interest, and we agreed on a payment plan, which I completed in two years and six months.
I was fortunate because I couldn’t afford vehicle financing from companies like Moove. The interest from this woman amounted to about one million naira, which was very fair. Now, I’m the proud owner of a car.
I’m not planning to stop driving anytime soon, but I’m learning other skills to help me earn more money and eventually buy more cars to employ other drivers.
What skills are you acquiring?
I recently completed a social media marketing training course. I’m not leaving my driving job for it, but I want to be prepared if an opportunity arises. I’m also opening a domiciliary account so I can start earning from Facebook advertising. Once that’s set up, I plan to enroll in a Meta Marketing certification course.
My ultimate goal is to become a content creator and influencer, earning passively while managing other businesses. By 2025, I plan to focus more on content creation.
My schedule will be to drive from Sundays to Thursdays and dedicate the rest of the week to creating content and handling Facebook marketing. If I do this consistently for about two years, I should be able to save enough money to buy another car to generate additional income.
One thing is certain: I don’t see myself working for someone else to earn a salary again. I’m confident I’ll thrive as a self-employed person.
* - Not real name
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