Unusual Careers Women Thrive In Today 

Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past, career options for women were boxed into neat little categories. 

You know, the classic “teacher,” “nurse,” or “banker” lineup that our African parents proudly listed as the only reasonable paths for their daughters. 

But fast forward to 2025, and women are thriving in careers that would make our ancestors gasp, clutch their chests, and call for a family meeting.

Gone are the days when the only thing women were expected to “fix” was a plate of food. Today, women are out here doing the most in fields people never saw coming. 

If you think engineering, law, and medicine are groundbreaking, wait till you see the kind of careers women are absolutely dominating today.

Professional Bouncers  

Imagine gatecrashing a top-tier Lagos nightclub, hoping to sweet-talk your way past the bouncer, expecting to see a heavily built man named “Big Sam.” Instead, you’re met with Aunty Nkechi, who looks at you like your entire existence is a personal inconvenience.

“Madam, you no go fit enter like this,” she says, arms folded. You try to argue, but one glare from her and you remember your home training.

Women are now holding down security jobs like pros. These aren’t just your average “excuse me, ma” security guards; these ladies will bounce you and your disrespect out of the premises before you can say “do you know who I am?”

Chief Mechanics and Auto Technicians 

Once upon a time, the closest a woman got to fixing a car was reminding her husband to “check that sound” the car had been making. 

But today? Women are running full-fledged mechanic workshops, diagnosing engine problems, and changing oil faster than you can imagine.

Men now experience true humility when they roll into the mechanic shop and a female mechanic gives them a rundown of their car problems with so much accuracy and confidence.

The way they stutter before agreeing is always premium entertainment.

Tech Bros Sisi!

Back in the day, people thought IT jobs were strictly for men. But today, women are building fintech solutions, cybersecurity systems, and AI models; basically making sure your “urgent 2k” requests are securely processed.

If your bank app suddenly stops working, just know one of these tech women may be behind the scenes, sitting pretty while debugging the problem.

Stand-Up Comedians 

“Women are not funny,” they said. And then Nigerian women picked up the mic and proved them all wrong.

From making jokes about growing up with African parents to narrating relationship woes with unmatched accuracy, women in comedy are delivering punchlines that leave people rolling on the floor (sometimes literally).

Let’s not forget that some of our favourite Nigerian content creators and skit makers that give us comic relief are women. I’m talking about the likes of Taoma, Kie Kie, etc,

Meme Creators and Twitter Lords (Sorry, Ladies)

Gone are the days when women were just passive consumers of online humor. Today, they are the queens of meme culture, turning heartbreaks and fuel scarcity into top-tier comedy.

Ever seen a viral Nigerian meme on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram? There’s a high chance it was created by a woman sipping a cold drink while dropping savage captions  

Female DJs  

The world of DJs used to be male-dominated, but now, female DJs are taking over the industry, spinning turntables, and making sure nobody goes home early at parties.

Gone are the days when DJs would frustrate us with weird song transitions. Now, women are on the decks making sure we go from “Amapiano vibes” to “Shayo time” smoothly.

And if you dare request a song in the middle of their set? Just be ready for a side-eye of destiny.

Furniture Makers 

To think there was a time when the closest a woman got to furniture was complaining about how the sofa didn’t match the curtains. 

Today, women are designing and building furniture that would leave you speechless

Men now walk into furniture stores only to find out that the person making their custom chairs is a woman, who can sand wood smoother than they can shave their own beards.

Commercial Bus Drivers/Chauffeurs

When we thought we had seen it all and women couldn’t possibly shock us with their choice of unusual careers, they took it a notch higher and showed up in the automobile space. 

Not just as mechanics but as Chauffeurs, Uber, Bolt and commercial bus (danfo) drivers and it is safe to say that they’re currently giving the men a run for their money. 

That fine aunty you always see in church? She’s an Uber/Bolt driver and she’s cashing out big time.

Private Investigators 

If there’s one thing women have a PhD in, it’s finding out things they were never supposed to know.

Now, they’re monetizing it. From tracking cheating partners to uncovering office scandals, women in the private investigation field are leaving no stone unturned.

Before you finish typing “Hey” to another woman, your babe has already found her Instagram, her hometown, her blood group, and her JAMB score. So, just behave.

The days of limiting women to certain careers are over! Nigerian women are excelling in spaces nobody thought they would, proving that talent has no gender. 

Whether it’s fixing cars, flying drones, or catching liars in 4K, women are thriving in careers that would make our ancestors roll in their graves. 

And we’re not having it any other way. 

Are you a female hustler who chose an unusual career path, tell us what you do in the SME Community, and let’s give you a Fusion shoutout.