Select a LAPO Client Victoria Ajayi Elizabeth Batsone Virginia Etobe Victoria Ubebe Grace nwajei Doris Iwhiwhu Lucky Oghuvwe Martha Olulu Stella Ebuwa Cecilia Farumen Elizabeth Okafor Sarah Oziwele Patricia Onwubdonu Nkechi Okwudibie Doris Aizenora Eje Okpu Roseline Adamu Helen Igbinosa

LAPO Has Rescued My Household

Grace nwajei
Although she never went to school, Mrs. Grace Nwajei has had a taste of good life in the past. If she had perhaps been told by any soothsayer that she would ever experience the dark side of life, she would not have believed it. But it happened.

Her husband's transport business was doing so well until the unfortunate happened. One disaster painfully led to another. Before anybody knew it, the once flourishing business empire came to rubble. The family consequently went down into an abyss of poverty and sorrow.

Perhaps, if necessary precautions were taken and things done properly, the effect may not have been so adverse on the family. Grace Nwajei acknowledged this and agreed that she made a very silly mistake for which she expressed regret. She was so contented with her husband's income that she never thought about the need to build an alternative source of income in case the unexpected happens. She has learnt her lessons in a very bitter way. She is now doing what she ought to have done several years back. With the support of Lift Above Poverty (LAPO) a micro finance institution based in Benin city, Nigeria, she is gradually building her own income-yielding business enterprise.

Born in 1959, young Grace lost her parents before she attained full maturity, She hails from Agbor in Delta State. Presently, she lives on Osubi Street, which is before Trade Fair Complex in Warri and has her business located along Refinery Road, by Slaughter House in the same city of Warri, Delta State.

Since her parents died early, she was taken to her aunt who was entrusted with the responsibility of her early upbringing and development. Due to her poor financial circumstance however, she could not do much for the young Grace Nwajei in terms of academic development. Of course, she had her own children and other challenges to care for as well. Thus after her primary education and a typewriting course in a commercial school, she was compelled by circumstance to withdraw from academic pursuit.
Although she loved education, Nwajei said there was virtually nothing she could do to change the situation, as nobody else was willing to help.

With hope of ever going to school piped off, she became engaged in her aunt's farm and market activities. She would go early to the farm and return at evenings to hawk. She was so hardworking that she endeared herself to neigbours and other people around. This was how she carried on before contracting marriage with her husband, Mr. David Nwajei, a transporter.

For several years, everything went on smoothly with the Nwajei family. Her husband who was then doing very well as a transporter had no difficulty single handedly fending for the family of five. Like most well to do businessmen, he saw no good reason why his wife must stress herself running around to do one form of business or the other. Within the limit of available resources, he made sure he provided for the comfort of his home.

Against all expectations, his business suddenly nose-dived. He started to have problems with his once thriving transport business. ?A tale of woes followed? said Mrs. Nwajei, as three of his transport vehicles got involved in fatal accidents at about the same period. ?One accident took place at Shagamu in Ogun state claiming one life. The other at Ogharra in Delta State, and yet another in another place,? complained Grace Nwajei, who was then a fulltime housewife. She added that even one of her daughters was hospitalized the same period as a result of injuries sustained in a separate road accident.

A woman of humour and pleasant personality, Nwajei noted that it was indeed a sad and depressing period for every member of her family saying, ?it was the handwork of Satan.? Presently, a prayer band leader in her church, she said she then reported the case to God for judgment knowing that he would definitely intervene and save the situation.

This was the true picture of the situation at the time she came in contact with LAPO through a bosom friend of hers, Vivian. ?The whole family was distraught. No trade, no work, no money. Vivian saw how we were suffering and told me about LAPO, suggesting that I join in order to enhance my economic well-being.?

After carrying out a careful enquiry, which strengthened her conviction about the genuineness of LAPO, she became interested in membership. She later participated in a six weeks pre-loan training exercise, which qualified her for her very first loan of N10, 000 in the year 2001. She subsequently benefited from four others that helped stabilize her business. In fact, she was the one who organized the Union called Praise and is presently its leader. ?We meet every Tuesdays here in my shop. We do not record any loan default here in my group. Vivian, who introduced me to LAPO is a secretary in another LAPO Union.? She says.

Today, Nwajei is happy that she has been able to give her family some economic relief through profits from her textile business. She never believed that her life would turn out well again during the period that she was beset by that ill wind. On the other hand, her husband is gradually resuscitating his transport business and things are taking good shape again. ?Three of my children are presently schooling in the university. One is still seeking admission into the university and the last still in the secondary,? she added in a tone filled with joy and contentment.

Mrs. Grace Nwajei, apart from the regular LAPO loans has gained from other non-financial services such as Gender, Environment and Leadership Trainings regularly organized by LAPO Development Centre (LADEC) and LAPO Health.

She has been taught, for example, that all human beings are equal irrespective of sex and that it is important to participate in the electoral process to choose leaders during elections. Also she has had several enlightenments on HIV/AIDS and nutrition. These, she said has given her lots of awareness about them.

Her success story, she acknowledges with gratitude, ?is tied to the swift financial intervention of Lift Above Poverty Organization, LAPO saying, ? It offered me regular financial support? especially in the areas of micro finance and social empowerment.

Today, her husband, David Nwajei is relieved that she is contributing substantially to the family budget, which he was initially handling all alone. Her children too are very happy over the development.

Drug Rehab Program | Seo Web Design | Discount Luxury Watches | Rock | garden shed | Diatomite | Multiple sclerosis