Breaking Barriers: Women Steering Change in Kano’s Tricycle Industry

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By: Khadijah Aliyu, Kano

In Northern Nigeria’s city of Kano, the sight of a woman behind the handlebars of a commercial tricycle still turns heads.

But a quiet revolution is underway. Once unthinkable, female tricycle drivers are emerging as symbols of resilience rewriting the narrative of womanhood in a region where tradition often dictates the limits of female ambition.

In the bustling streets of Kano, the hum of commercial tricycles popularly called Keke Napep fills the air. Among the countless male drivers weaving through traffic, a few women stand out, redefining what it means to be a woman in Northern Nigeria.

Among them are 30-year-old mother of two Mary Micheal , and 29, year Ladi Bilyaminu both of whom have turned determination into a livelihood.

Mary is part of a growing number of women in Kano who have taken up tricycle driving a profession once reserved exclusively for men to support their families and prove that women, too, can thrive in public spaces.

She is a member of a women tricycle drivers’ cooperative, which provides solidarity, emergency support, and small savings schemes to help members access credit and maintain their vehicles.

For Mary, driving a tricycle is more than a source of income it is a statement of independence and courage.

“When I first started driving, people would stare,” she recalls. “Some laughed, others asked if I had no husband. But I told them I’m doing this for my children and there’s dignity in every honest job.”

Another rider, Ladi Bilyaminu, shares a similar story. Both women have faced skepticism from relatives, verbal harassment from male drivers, and even rejection from passengers who refused to ride with them.

“Some men would tell me to go home and cook,” Ladi says. “But I refused to give up. Every woman deserves a chance to earn an honest living.”

Security concerns also remain a challenge. To protect themselves, Mary and Ladi limit their operations to daylight hours and well-populated routes.

Many residents interviewed by Grassroots Nigeria say the emergence of female tricycle riders is a welcome change that promotes gender equality and inspires younger girls to dream beyond traditional limitations.

As more women like Mary and Ladi take control of their handlebars, they are not just driving passengers across the city they are steering social change, one ride at a time.

Despite the hurdles, their courage is inspiring others. According to the Kano State Tricycle Riders Association, there are now over 50 registered female tricycle drivers operating across the metropolis a small but growing movement symbolizing women’s empowerment, economic inclusion, and resilience.

published on

November 10, 2025, 17:09 +00:00

AUTHOR

Saratu Ashafa