How My Oga Used Me to Make ₦10 Million and Paid Me Only ₦5,000 - My 5 Years Mechanic Apprentice Story in Enugu

*STORY:*

I spent 5 years as a mechanic apprentice in Enugu. No salary. No day off. My oga promised to settle me.

Last month, we got a big job to fix a fleet of 4 Toyota Hilux for a company. Total contract was ₦10 Million. I did 90% of the work. I slept inside workshop for 3 nights to finish it. We delivered.

Oga collected the ₦10 Million cash transfer. He smiled and gave me ₦5,000. He said manage this one, you still dey learn.

I was shocked. 5 years of loyalty, waking by 5am, closing by 9pm, losing my girlfriends because I had no money, and all I got was ₦5,000 from ₦10 Million job.

That night I cried inside workshop. Not because of money, but because I realized some ogas will never settle you. They see you as competition.

I left the next morning. No fight. I carried my small tools. Today I am trying to start my own small workshop, but I have no capital. No tools. No support.

But I learned 3 lessons.

First, document everything you do. Take pictures of work before and after.

Second, always have small side customers even while serving your oga. Your skill is your capital.

Third, don't stay more than the agreed years. If oga shift settlement date, start planning your exit.

To all apprentices in Nigeria especially in Enugu, Onitsha and Lagos, your time will come. That ₦5,000 pain will turn to your own millions if you don't give up.

I am now looking for small support to get basic tools. But more importantly, I want to teach young mechanics how to avoid what happened to me.