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LAPO Is The Best Thing That Has
Happened To Us

Roseline Adamu

Roseline Adamu is one woman who loathes idleness. She believes that through hardwork, the problems of economic servitude could be better addressed. Her success so far in business confirms this assertion.

Born at Eleme, a town after Jattu in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Adamu who is now 30 years of age got married to Mr. Adamson Adamu, a taxi driver in 1994. The family is blessed with four children one male and three females. Her late father was a retiree of the Nigerian army while her mother is a local trader. Apparently fuelled by ignorance or primitiveness, her parents never saw any wisdom in empowering their female children with all that was necessary to combat the challenges of the future, which is good education. In tandem with the prevailing but negative cultural practice that existed then in that part of the world, her father denied her access to western education. This retrogressive practice restricted education only to male children. Besides, her father even considered money spent on educating the girl-child a waste of lean resources. Adamu, like most of her peers, was therefore merely groomed to assume the role of a housewife and nothing more. This was her life situation at the time she contracted marriage with her husband about 10 years ago.

Mrs. Adamu hated to be a liability to her family. Besides, she knew that economic dependence would deprive her a voice in the home. She continually bemoaned her poor background and lamented the refusal or inability of her ill-exposed parents to give her formal education. She wanted the best for her children but had sleepless nights wondering about how she and her husband could fund their education with the lean family income.

As the children grew older, the income of her husband could no longer meet the family budget and this became a great headache to her. There seemed to be no easy way out of the problem. No solution was in sight. She suddenly realized that if she was going to be able to cope with the situation, she must roll up her sleeve, summon all courage and get down to hard work.

Finally, Adamu decided to venture into provisions business, a skill she had learnt from her mother while still accompanying her to village markets. She was optimistic that if she is able to source fund to float the business, she would be able to contribute in a meaningful way towards the growth and development of the family. She was very anxious to assume complimentary responsibilities such as picking the hospital bills, children's school fees and clothing.

The problem of how and where to raise adequate capital to actualize her business plans became a major source of headache to her. She had no capital of her own.

She lives in Tunganmage town, a rural area within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where access to loan facilities is almost impossible.

Her husband understood the situation but could really not do much due to lean resources and commitments here and there. He only assisted with about N3, 000. This was indeed a far cry from the required sum.

She continued to live in an island of desperation, thinking that the status quo will remain. It was while still in this situation that the re-assuring news of LAPO, a micro finance institution based in Benin City got to her ears. She was told that the organization was willing and ready to provide her with the needed capital, provided she is acting from a genuine intention and ready to pledge unflinching commitment to the prompt repayment of given loans. She was also told stories about those who have become economically independent of their spouses through regular business loans given by LAPO.

What gladdened Adamu's heart the most was the absence of stringent conditions that commercial banks and other traditional moneylenders usually imposed before granting loans to borrowers. Convinced about the good intentions of LAPO, she joined the organization.

She thereafter passed through the compulsory six weeks pre-loan and microbusiness trainings that qualified her as a LAPO member. She was then enlisted as a member in Tunganmage II Union, Gwagwalada Branch, Abuja.

Mrs. Adamu got relieved. Finally, there was light at the end of the dark tunnel. Through the financial support of LAPO, she was able to raise the needed sum for the smooth take-off of the provisions business. This was quite pleasing to her husband who saw it as a sign of relief.

In the next couple of years as a LAPO member, she was able to secure credit from the micofinance NGO about five times. Since her business is doing well, she has no problem with loan repayment.

According to her, ?getting business stability would have been practically impossible for me if not that I joined LAPO in 2001.? As profit started to flow in, she began to solve some complex problems pertaining children's education, well-being and future. Her husband was greatly impressed and gave her the needed encouragement to excel. As he says ?joining LAPO is the best thing that has happened to us.?

Today, Adamu has become a fulfilled woman and an entrepreneur in her own right. She is no longer completely dependent on the income of her husband for survival. In fact when her husband lost his first job with Julius Berger Construction Company in Abuja last year, she assumed the responsibility for the family upkeep. It was only recently that he took to commercial driving for economic survival.

Those who know her very well will attest that her socio-economic condition has greatly improved. Adamu now assists in the feeding of the family by contributing significantly towards the family budget.

She has this to say of LAPO: ?it is one of the most credible microfinance organizations I have ever known or heard of. It has raised me from zero level to this position of self-sustenance and economic independence. The regular loans assisted me in the development of my business and also empowered me to survive the economic recession that has plagued Nigeria within the last two decades.?

She expressed gratitude to LAPO for its efforts and vision and urged its management never to relent in its efforts to uplift the living standard of the poor in the society.

Besides the regular loans, Adamu has benefited a great deal from training programmes organized and facilitated by LAPO Development Centre (LADEC) and LAPO Health.

She saves N100 daily through Olidara, a local method of savings. She is presently the secretary of Tunganmage II Union.

She goes to market twice a week and has increased her capital base from N10, 000 in the year 2001 to about N50, 000.

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