National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has opened up about his remarkable journey from the streets of Lagos to the pinnacle of Nigeria’s transport union, saying life itself became his greatest teacher.
The union leader, who never had the privilege of formal education, said decades of hands-on experience, perseverance and determination have given him a level of knowledge and understanding he believes compares favourably with that of many university graduates.
MC Oluomo made the remarks while speaking at the 50th birthday celebration of renowned Islamic singer Hafsat Adegoke and the launch of her latest album in Alausa, Lagos.
Reflecting on his early years, he said his success did not come overnight but was the product of years of learning the transport business from the ground up.
“I didn’t become NURTW president by chance. I learnt the job, understood it and worked my way to the top,” he said.
“Although I didn’t have the opportunity to go to school, the knowledge and experience I have gathered through life are greater than what many degree holders possess.”
He recalled beginning his working life as a teenager, earning his own income as a bus conductor while helping to support his family.
According to him, he started making money at the age of 13, working daily as a conductor before using part of his earnings to care for his mother.
“I worked as a conductor from noon until evening. Sometimes I would use my money to watch Indian films at Danjuma Cinema, but I always made sure I took money home for my mother to buy food,” he recounted.
Despite missing out on formal education himself, MC Oluomo said he was determined to ensure his children enjoyed the opportunities he never had.
He revealed that his investment in their education has paid off, with his children now excelling in different professions abroad.
“If I am uneducated, I thank God. Today, my children are a doctor, a lawyer and an engineer, and they are all in America. That is my joy, and I pray God continues to preserve their lives,” he said.
The transport union boss also stressed the importance of responsible fatherhood, urging men to prioritise the welfare and upbringing of their children.
According to him, a father’s first responsibility is to provide for and nurture his family, lamenting that many women have become the main breadwinners because some men have neglected their obligations.
He further criticised fathers who devote more attention and resources to children outside their marriages while abandoning their immediate families, describing such behaviour as unacceptable.
MC Oluomo’s story mirrors a journey of resilience, rising from humble beginnings as a bus conductor to becoming one of the country’s most influential transport union leaders, while using his success to give his children the educational opportunities he never had.
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