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With LAPO, Success Is Sure

Nkechi Okwudibie
Indeed things are again taking shape for Mrs. Nkechi Okwudibie, a reliable client of Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO).

Things unfortunately took a downward turn for her in 1996 when some men of the underworld, she said, paid her household an unwanted visit. Without pity, they swiftly carted away virtually all that they possessed and had to live on, besides making away with a large sum of money belonging to her husband's clients. Her husband, she said, was a thrift worker who goes from house to house each day to collect savings from depositors. He had come home that fateful evening with a huge sum, which was to be lodged in the bank the following day.

She recalled that it was indeed a very rough period for the entire family saying, ?Everyone thought it was all finished with us.?

Although deeply torn apart, Mrs. Okwudibie believed God for a possible breakthrough and struggled on. She refused to be weighed down by the unfortunate situation. Today, she has a very beautiful story of success to tell.

Feeling relaxed and radiant under a big umbrella shielding her from the hurtful rays of the sun in her ever busy business premises at the Ogwashi-uku market, she opened up by first of all commending LAPO, an institution she said ?is doing a lot to reduce the problem of a poverty in Nigeria through employment generation, microfinance and social development programmes.? She continued: ?I love LAPO and all its various programme geared at addressing the multifarious problems of women in the society. LAPO has particularly contributed a great deal to my business success.?

A woman of a very pleasant personality and charm, her simplicity and quiet disposition endear her to everyone that comes across her way. Born about 31 years ago at Ogwashi-uku to Mr. Albert Abuode and Madam Regina Abuode who are both farmers, Mrs. Okundibie was trained as an auxiliary nurse. Her parents did not want any of their daughters to be a liability to their future husbands, unlike most others. Within the limit of available resources, they gave their children the best they could. However, only one male was sponsored to the university although it was their intention to see all of them through to the university. The obstacle was the sudden and protracted illness of their father. The burden of funding their schooling was too much for her poor mother to bear hence they had to stop.

Before Mrs. Okwudibie contracted marriage with her husband in 1991 she was working in a clinic owned by a Ghanaian, Dr. Maxwell, at Ogwashi-ku. She had to stop, following the advice of her husband who wanted her to join him in his business. Presently, her main area of business is kerosene and fruits. She would buy kerosene in large containers to resell in gallons at moderate prices.

Likewise, she buys different kinds of fruits such as oranges, pineapple, mango, paw-paws, and potatoes in bags from interior villages to resell them at retail prices to her teeming customers both in the market and at home. Although Oqwashi-uku market is her principal selling point, she equally sells her goods in the surrounding towns.

Before the armed robbery incident, life was going on smoothly with the Okwudibies. Apart from her husband regular ?Olidara? thrift work, he had a big bar and a recording studio, which he managed with her. ?We were so comfortable that we had a whole bungalow all to ourselves. We were financially okay and had enough to eat and drink,? she added in a solemn tone.

The robbery brought the family to square one. A catalogue of misfortunes followed rapidly. The once flourishing family business collapsed under a heavy financial burden and bankruptcy. Feeding the family of five became an impossible task and they were now living on the goodwill of neigbours, friends and church brethren. Those that her husband owed gave them no breathing space at all thereby adding salt to injury. They even confiscated the remaining property left behind by the armed brigands, leaving the once happy family in anguish.

It was at this critical point that Mrs. Okwudibie started the mother of all battles in a bid to survive. ?I was no longer happy! My children were hungry.? She soon realized that she could venture into business but the money with which to start was not just there. How could she raise money? Who could give capital without any collateral or stiff repayment conditions attached? All these questions contended for answers at the same time. One day, one of her Christian friends in Christ's chosen church of God, Mrs Helen Uzor broke the refreshing news of LAPO to her. ?I know you are a struggling woman and need a working capital to invest in any micro enterpreneurial activity of your choice. There is a place where you can borrow money without any stress.?

She however did not receive the news wholeheartedly thinking that the conditions will further drag her into more indebtedness. Uzor did not relent but kept on the pressure until she decided to inform her husband of it. To her utmost surprise, not only did her husband offer her full support but went further to facilitate the process of registration. ?This is how I became a client of LAPO in 1998 and I must say here that it has been a rewarding experience for me and my husband who presently operates a motorcycle (okada) transport as a means of livelihood at Asaba.?

Out of her first loan of N5, 000, she bought a wheelbarrow at N2, 800 and invested the rest into her present business. Other subsequent loans and the accruing profits equally went into the business. The business she started in a little way has now blossomed exceedingly to the extent that she now takes responsibility for children's school fees, feeding, family maintenance, health care and others. This is more so when her husband is not yet gainfully employed but still rides motorcycle in order not to be idle.

Her greatest joy is that they have been able to keep their heads above debt, especially the ones incurred by her husband when he was into thrift business. Out of her profits, she recently purchased a new television set and other household utensils. She equally does daily savings of N300.

What does Mrs. Okwudibie have to say about her LAPO experience? ?Wonderful. Its loan repayment is stress-free. You pay it by installment and before you know it, you have finished paying.? But more than the repayment plan, the trainings she has received, she says, have changed her attitude to life in a positive way.

Nkechi Okwudibie who is the Secretary of Isa Road II Union at Ogwashi-uku advise women to stay out of idleness and embrace the programme of LAPO to stay out of poverty and ignorance.

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