Bukola Ayinke
Point of Sale
/ feature / PEOPLE
photography ADE DOLAPO
words WASE AGUELE
There are many ways to be a ‘Lagos babe’. There are the Detty December regulars moving from party to party, the corporate types making their way from the mainland to the island, the soft-life girls with schedules planned to perfection. But alongside these familiar categories is a figure rarely mentioned, despite being an integral part of the city’s pace and heartbeat: the ‘Point of Sale’ (POS) girl.
You’ll find her in the city’s busiest pockets, Balogun, Oshodi, Yaba and beyond, where Lagos becomes its truest self. In markets where traders cannot afford to lose a single sale, she keeps transactions flowing with a speed and confidence that feels almost balletic. She becomes an unlikely nucleus of modern commerce, moving money so that everything else can move too.
There is also something distinctly uniform-like about the presentation of a POS girl: the money belt slung low on their waists, cross-body pouches, lanyards, small plastic POS machines in hand. Her attire is functional, yes, but also a kind of aesthetic shorthand. They are street-level superheroes, women whose tools are modest, even rudimentary, but whose impact is expansive.
For this story, photographer Ade Dolapo captures portraits of POS girls across Lagos, treating them not as background characters in the city’s economic dealings but as protagonists.
In a place obsessed with glamour, reinvention and the next big thing, the POS girl remains one of the most consistent symbols of Lagos as it actually functions. The beep of her machine punctuates the day, a quiet reminder that Lagos only works because she does.
Bukola Ayinke
Bukola Ayinke
WA
How has your experience with the POS shown that women can succeed in this space, and do you think POS has created more opportunities for women to join the tech or finance space?
BA
POS has shown that women can succeed in this space because, with this tech business, I’ve seen women who don’t have to wait for salaries or depend entirely on their husbands. They can always bring something to the table too. Yes, it has created more opportunities. Even for the uneducated ones, once they learn how to operate it, they are good to go. It has created so many opportunities for us because, without formal education, you can still go into the business and thrive.
WA
How do you balance being comfortable for work while also expressing your personal style?
BA
Your appearance attracts customers. So I choose what to wear that makes me look good and also keeps me comfortable. If you look good, they’ll come to you.
Oluwatosin Deborah
Oluwatosin Deborah
WA
How did you first get introduced to the POS machine and learn how it works?
OD
I went to buy attachment (hair extensions) from my customer in the market because I’m a hairdresser too. I noticed that anytime I was there, I saw how well the POS business was moving, so I asked her to introduce me to it—and she did. I didn’t go through any formal learning. I’m a learned person, so I just started checking it out on my own because it’s almost like using a phone.
WA
How do you choose what to wear each day when coming to your POS stand?
OD
I’m a mom, so sometimes I dress like a mom and sometimes I go for the chic look. I like the chic look because it makes me look smart and makes it easy to work.
WA
If another woman wanted to start a POS business, what advice would you give her about learning the technology?
OD
Be patient and stay focused.
Nofisat Bello
Nofisat Bello
WA
How did you first get introduced to the POS machine and learn how it works?
NB
I used to stay with my hairdresser after school, and I watched her do it. From there, I started developing interest, so I learned from her. Then I opened my own shop.
WA
How important is your style and dress when coming to work on your POS stand?
NB
I always go with comfort. I’m wearing a hijab and traditional attire because today is Friday. I wear that on Fridays, but on regular days, I wear trousers, gowns, and skirts. I make sure to dress well and stay comfortable.
WA
If another woman wanted to start a POS business, what advice would you give her about learning the technology?
NB
It is easy to learn if you put your mind to it. But you have to be very careful because you can easily make mistakes. Make sure you’re patient too.
Mubak
Mubak
WA
Do you think POS has created more opportunities for women to join the tech or finance space?
M
Yes, it has. A lot of women are now into technology and business because it’s easy to learn. Many women are now outside working with technology.
WA
How this technology (changed the way you work compared to before and how money moves in the Nigerian economy?
M
It has made life easier because we don’t have to go through the stress we used to before with banks or ATMs to access money. We can easily pay for subscriptions, pay for bills or even recharge cards for phone. Before, we sold paper cards, and those weren’t easy to handle.
