The introduction of ride-hailing services in Nigeria has created a shift in the working class and empowered more people by providing alternative sources of income. Recently, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are actively seeking opportunities that can impact their earnings. Friday Treat engaged Mr Adegoke Sanni, a driver with Bolt and a fish farmer in Ibadan. He gives insights into how the ride-hailing business has impacted his income and empowered his entrepreneurial journey since signing up on the platform in February 2021. Mr Sanni is also an MBA graduate of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma and is married and blessed with two teenagers.
How long have you been a driver on Bolt, and what influenced your decision?
I joined the platform as a driver in February 2021, and it has been amazing. I decided to drive for Bolt not just because it is the most efficient in Ibadan but also because the business gives me extra access to earn money on the side. Bolt has allowed me to be my own boss, and I must say driving with Bolt has improved my standard of living.
How do you combine your time with other businesses you manage?
Interestingly, I am also a fish farmer where I rear fish and smoke them for sale. My decision to drive with Bolt is like a second business for me. When I am not actively engaged in my fish business, being a Bolt driver has helped me earn extra cash. In Nigeria, it is always good to have an alternate source of income to use for emergencies or finance some other businesses— which is what I do. As Nigerians, we already have an entrepreneurial spirit, which is one way to maximise opportunities.
Why did you consider ride-hailing as occasioned by new technology, considering there are other traditional means to earn extra income in Nigeria?
It gives me access to quick cash. When I need money, all I need to do is go online via the app to become available to riders for pickups and drop-offs. I like how easy it is to make extra income. Also, they support us drivers with bonuses which help with our earnings on the platform. The bonuses further help to protect the commission over my earnings, so it is a win-win situation. The bonuses are also an encouragement. Once I meet the bonus requirements weekly, my earnings can surpass my average weekly earnings. Also, Bolt is the leading e-hailing platform in Nigeria and has a broad reach in the country’s cities.
Since you became a driver-partner in February, how have these bonuses impacted you?
It has been great. If you aim for the bonus, you will make more money on Bolt. Driver bonuses are set up that if you meet the daily bonus criteria, you will certainly earn more money at the end of the week. I try to meet the bonus requirements, and at the end of the day, it makes the commission insignificant. The bonuses I earn do play a good part in my commission.
How would you rate this kind of business model, and how does it encourage entrepreneurship?
It is great. It has empowered me beyond expectations. Driving with this technology-driven app gives me the opportunity for networking which has also positively impacted my fish farming business. Sometimes I get business leads from riders, and I have met some who have become customers for my fish farming business.
In the end, driving on Bolt helped promote my entrepreneurial journey. I can be a fish farmer and still be a driver. It has had an enormous impact on my journey as a businessman.
What do you have to say to other entrepreneurs out there?
I would tell them to invest more and take chances. This is something I wish I knew 10 to 15 years ago. It offers an opportunity to make money without time constraints or rigid routines, and it is a step in the right direction to working smart.
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