By Wilfred Enow Agbor
Yaounde, Cameroon
Amos Obinyikefor is a motorcycle mechanic whose workshop is located at the” Fin Gudron “neighborhood in Soa, an outskirt from Yaoundé. He repairs both private and commercial motorcycles.
Amos has been running this mechanic workshop for about five years in Soa. He completed his apprenticeship in Ndop, North West Region and decided to come to Soa in search for greener pastures.
Amos Obinyikefor is a motorcycle mechanic
He equally sells motorcycle spare parts. In this case, customers who have mechanical problems which warrant spare parts replacement may not need to waste time going elsewhere.
iCameroonmet Amos at his workshop when was working on an engine problem of a Sanili High Jack motorcycle. He explained that a sprocket shaft bearing got broken inside the engine. Consequently, when the owner starts the engine and engages the first gear, the
Amos Obinyikefor at work at his motorcycle mechanic shop
manual kick starter falls back thereby producing an unpleasant noise.
To resolve this problem if the mechanic provides the spare part, including labour, Amos charges the motorcycle’s owner twenty thousand francs (20,000 CFA francs). Otherwise, Amos charges ten thousand francs (10,000 francs CFA) for repairs alone.
Maximally, thirty minutes is enough to resolve an engine problem of any sort
Spare parts on shelves at Amos motorcycle mechanic shop
unless a required spare is not available. Amos works on 5 motorcycles per day.
The only difficulty Amos faces is lack of help. He works alone and complains that young adults are not interested in learning the job even for free. After work, he gets so tired.
Ngwa Leonard Ataga alias “Ekamofock,” a taxi motorcycle owner reiterated that he has known Amos for four years. The engine Amos works on can last for one year compared to other mechanics whose works can only last for about 2 months. Ekmofock believes Amos is the best motorcycle mechanic.
Tejani Amadou, another motorcycle taxi man thinks the same of Amos. Amadou explains to iCameroon that even when he is financially broke and has a mechanical breakdown, Amos still works on his motorcycle.
Amos is very good at what he does such that motorcycle owners think he performs magic with his fingers. His mechanical know how is an accruement to the motorcycle community in Soa. He only hopes that young people can learn the trade; come and work with him or become self employed rather than remain jobless.
