National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has spoken about his early life, saying he began working as a bus conductor at a young age and started earning his own income as a teenager.
Speaking at the 50th birthday celebration and album launch of Islamic singer Hafsat Adegoke in Alausa, Lagos, MC Oluomo said his practical experiences have played a major role in shaping his character and leadership despite his lack of formal education.
According to him, he worked as a bus conductor from noon until evening during his teenage years, using the income to support his family while also meeting some of his personal needs.
“I’ve been spending money since I was 13 years old. I worked as a conductor from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. I would go to Danjuma Cinema to watch Indian movies with my own money, and I still took money home for my mother to buy food,” he said.
MC Oluomo explained that starting work at an early age exposed him to life’s realities and taught him responsibility, discipline, and perseverance. He said those experiences later helped prepare him for leadership roles within the transport union.
He also argued that while formal education is important, practical experience and continuous learning can equally shape a person’s judgment, decision-making, and ability to relate to people from different backgrounds.
The NURTW president said his journey from working as a bus conductor to leading one of Nigeria’s largest transport unions demonstrates the value of hard work, commitment, and persistence. He added that the lessons he learned through years of interacting with people have contributed significantly to his personal development and understanding of society.
