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Working Lives: The Female Tiler Who Wants to Go Back to School

Female Tilers

“I wanted something extraordinary, something not common among females. So, I indicated an interest in it and enrolled in the programme since it was free. Now, I am a professional tiler.”

 

What is your name?

My name is Demilade Akintoye. I am from Ondo State.

Tell us about your family

I live with my parents in Makoko. Both of them are into fishing. They have 5 children and I am the first child.

Tell us about your educational background

I grew up in Makoko. I attended Makoko Primary School and De Crown Secondary School. I wish to continue with my schooling but I also need to assist my family financially and save for university. That’s why after I graduated from secondary school 3 years ago, I took up a job as a teacher in a private school here in Makoko. My salary was N12,000:00 monthly.

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Where do you live and how much is your rent?

I stay with my parents. They own the house; it’s a wooden one built by my father. So, we don’t pay for rent.

How did you start this job?

Lafarge brought the training programme to my school. I believe it was an initiative to transform the lives of those in need, especially females. I found it very interesting because I had never seen a female tiler. I wanted something extraordinary, something not common among females. So, I indicated an interest in it and enrolled in the programme since it was free. Now, I am a professional tiler.

Why did you decide to be a tiler?

You know Nigerians like free things. I don’t have any skills and I am not sure if my university dream will come to fulfillment. I saw the training as an opportunity especially as tiling is not common among ladies. People are always surprised anytime I tell them I’m a tiler. Then they’d give me the job to test my skill. I want that.

I want engineers and contractors to see me working and agree with the saying that indeed, “what a man can do, a woman can do better”. It’s a challenge to me and I want to come to fulfillment.

How long have you been a tiler?

I’m still new. I’ve been doing this for about 5 months now.

What prompted your decision to be a tiler?

Being a tiler is not something I planned or wanted. I have never thought of it before. I see life as a challenge so I take on anything it throws at me. If I’m being honest, when Lafarge brought this programme to us, I thought they would employ us after the training. In the end, it was not so. Regardless of how things played out, we appreciate them for a job well done. We are proud of them and we promise to continue to put what we have been taught into practice.

How much do you charge?

We charge per square meter. The price ranges from N400:00 to N450:00 per square meter.

How long does it take to be a tiler?

The time spent depends on the kind of learner you are. If you are a fast learner and determined, you can learn it within 3 to 6 months. It took me less than a month to be a tiler. What’s most important is to learn the basics and the logic of tiling. Tiling involves mixing sand and cement and knowing the standard level required before you start laying your tiles.

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How many hours do you work in a day?

In a typical work environment, you resume by 9 am and close by 5 pm. However, with tiling, the number of hours we work daily depends on the type of work we’re doing. In some cases, we may spend the night at the site so we can start working early the following morning. If we finish on time, we can proceed to another site. So, there are no specific working hours. Our timing depends on the kind of contracts we have. Sometimes, we spend more than a month on a site.

I want to become better at tiling, so I work alongside professionals to learn and earn money. I joined them a month ago and they call me whenever there’s any job to execute.

On average, how much do you earn daily?

I don’t work every day, and also, the pay isn’t steady. We charge per square meter and that’s N400:00. Sometimes, I can earn more than N5,000 but everything depends on the project on ground.

If tables were turned, would you still be a tiler or you wish to do something else??

I won’t be a tiler. I wish to further my education. My wish is to be a medical doctor, I want to help society and the needy. My environment has opened my eyes to see that the poor are really suffering. Try visiting Makoko during the rainy season and you’d see that we’re suffering. Those of us who live here are strong and determined. I want to help my people in my own little way.

People argue that tiling is hard because of the mixing of sand and cement. What can you say about it?

No job is easy, especially here in Nigeria. But you would still find people doing them. That is why we survive anywhere we find ourselves. Tiling has its disadvantages and they include back pain, cement eating up your fingers, and so on, but with time your body adapts and gets used to them.

In your opinion, how can the government improve in this line of business?

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I believe the government should consider us, females. We have a lot to offer this society. The government should create awareness for us and help us reach out to the public so they know that female tilers exist. On our own part, we promise to do more, take on more skills and contribute to society.

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