The United Arab Emirates is a country that is fast becoming popular as a land of opportunities, even though there are many restrictions about living and working in the gulf nation. For Nigerian woman, Gift Preye Solomon, who has been living and working in the country for six years, it has been a lofty story of uncommon achievements as she has emerged as the first female in the entire country to be a delivery rider.
Gift Solomon spends her day delivering pizzas as an employee of one of Dubai’s top pizza establishments known as Freedom Pizzas. She has not only written her name into the history of the Arab nation but living a life she had always wanted for herself.
Although all seems all plum and rosy for Gift, she had paid a price of pain and anguish but it only lasted about six months after migrating to the country. Her story is one of thrill, motivation and inspiration for any who desires to earn an honest living through hard work.
“It doesn’t matter what nationality you are, UAE is a place of opportunities. Well, I would say that sometimes it can scare some people that I’m a female food delivery rider, especially the fact that I am African, but the UAE is a country where there is a place and opportunity for all nationalities. And the confidence that comes with the knowledge that you are beautiful and hardworking is blissful so I am happy and proud of myself,” she said in an interview.
“When a friend told me about Dubai back in Nigeria that were are job opportunities here, initially I was very skeptical about the idea and given everything I have heard about Dubai which weren’t so comforting but being here and working for the best part of six years I learnt many lies were being said about this wonderful city and country.
Gift Solomon said the UAE taught her to be strong and independent.
Going back memory lane, she recounted her story:
“When I arrived in the country, life was not what I expected, I came to the UAE with only 300 dollars, thinking that I already had a job, and I never knew that everything would be the other way around. I went through a lot, trying to find a job. I did not sleep for half a year with my eyes completely closed. And the job search was unsuccessful, a series of interviews were unsuccessful, sometimes I cried and slept without food because I had no money for food or even to go for an interview. Countless times, I had to beg money from friends at home in order to survive here in the UAE, and now, looking back, I am grateful to God for my long journey. In the end, I got the job a few months later as a customer service representative at Freedom Pizza and I am still working there now.
Gift Preye Solomon hails from Ese Udo local government area of Ondo State but was born and bred in Benin City in Edo State. She was born into a family of 6 children consisting of 4 boys and 2 girls. She became the eldest daughter after losing her sister shortly after death.
She has a degree in Multimedia Networking from NIIT, Benin, Edo State. She later enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree at National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) but dropped out at the 200 level as a result of lack of financial support.