By Gloria Drealomalicha
President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has said that although he never had the opportunity to receive a formal education, his life experiences and years of practical learning have equipped him with knowledge he believes surpasses that of many university graduates.
MC Oluomo made the remarks on Sunday during the 50th birthday celebration of Islamic singer Hafsat Adegoke and the launch of her new album in Alausa, Lagos. The event attracted several prominent guests, including Fuji music star Saheed Osupa.
Reflecting on his humble beginnings, the transport union leader recounted how he started working as a bus conductor in his teenage years, using his earnings not only to enjoy simple pleasures but also to support his family.
“I’ve been spending my own money since I was 13 years old. I worked as a bus conductor from noon until 6 p.m. After work, I would go to Danjuma Cinema to watch Indian films with my own money, and I still had enough left to give my mother to buy food,” he said.
MC Oluomo stressed that his emergence as president of the NURTW was the result of years of commitment, perseverance and dedication rather than luck.
“I didn’t become NURTW president by chance. I learnt the job, mastered it and worked my way up. I didn’t go to school, but the knowledge and understanding I have are greater than what many people with university degrees possess,” he said.
He also pointed to the achievements of his children as proof that, despite lacking formal education himself, he ensured they had access to quality education.
According to him, his children have gone on to establish successful professional careers abroad.
“I always tell people that even if I didn’t go to school, I thank God. Today, my children are a doctor, a lawyer and an engineer, and they all live in America. May God never allow our children to die young,” he added.
The union leader also spoke fondly about his long-standing friendship with Saheed Osupa, revealing that they had known each other since childhood. He recalled sharing meals in the home of the Fuji musician’s late mother, saying Osupa was familiar with the struggles that shaped his early life.
Turning to family values, MC Oluomo criticised fathers who neglect their responsibilities towards their wives and children, describing such behaviour as unacceptable.
“I have always said that any man who fails to take care of his children is an enemy of God,” he said.
He lamented that many Nigerian women now bear the financial burden of raising their families, paying school fees, rent, feeding and clothing their children because some husbands have abandoned their duties.
He further accused some men of prioritising children outside their marriages while neglecting their immediate families, warning that such actions often carry painful consequences later in life.
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