Meet the Nigerian wonder-woman who is a professional painter, tiler, and plumber

Freelance reporter Austin Edoho sent in the report. Read
below...
Fatimah Ibrahim is a 39 year old widow, a mother of
two, from Borno state. A chance encounter with her
on the street would most certainly portray her as just
one of the thousands of ordinary women walking the
streets of Lagos. But meeting her at a building site
would startlingly reveal the other side of her! This
woman is a professional painter, tiler, and plumber!
When asked how and why she entered into
professions dominated by men, she had this to say,
“I have always loved painting .My friend’s husband
who is a painter taught me how to paint, and I
started painting even when my husband was alive.
Later, I picked interest in tiling and plumbing
profession, and I went for the training. Right now,
after my husband’s death, I am proud to say I am a
professional painter, tiler, and plumber. To me being
a woman doesn’t really matter”
As must be expected, Fatimah is confronted with
some challenges which centers mainly on gender
disparity. “It’s been hard getting work. Some people
give me jobs to do, and they are never disappointed;
but others are just reluctant to trust me with their
buildings, because they still find it difficult to believe
the fact that a woman can do these jobs, and even
do them better than men
"She called on the public and the government to give
her contracts and test her level of capability. She also
stressed that these were her means of livelihood. “I
am a widow. I have two children aged 13 and 9.I am
not begging the public for food, as I have been
blessed with the means of providing for my children.
All I am asking if for Individuals, contractors,
Government to give me jobs so I can make money
and take care of my children and other widows who
are not so fortunate to have vocations like mine”

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