Studies from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group revealed that 91 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line. With an additional eight million people pushed into poverty in 2021. Interestingly, about 60 percent of people living below the poverty line are women. Unemployment, unpaid labor, gender discrimination, and marginalization are mostly responsible for it.
In many communities, women are largely dependent on their spouses for their financial needs. This dependence is one reason why women fail to report gender-based violence. They fear they’d lose their financial support and become stranded. Women’s empowerment is one of the practical solutions to reducing the cases of violence against women.
South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) is committed to improving the quality of life for women in communities. We empower them to be financially independent, thus reducing poverty and dependency. One such way we do this is through Jacob’s Well micro-credit scheme. SSDO makes loans available to women in a cooperative to start or sustain their business.
Here are some remarkable stories from the project and how beneficiaries have been able to change their household’s economic situation.
Ilunoh Josephine
Josephine relocated from the north a few years ago because of the insurgency. Since her return to the east, she found it difficult to meet ends. It was a struggle for her and her family to survive. However, in 2020, she discovered SSDO’s micro-credit scheme, and her story hasn’t been the same.
She had a small poultry business she started but hasn’t been able to break even due to the lack of capital. The poultry had 20 birds when she found out about the scheme. After accessing loans twice, she has grown her poultry farm to over 100 birds and 20 turkeys. She has also successfully expanded to the sales of agricultural produce.
Josephine testifies that her financial challenges have been a thing of the past.
“I am so grateful to SSDO for the loans they allowed me access. I have been able to grow my business. Three of my kids are in the university, and I’ve been able to cater to their needs without any financial challenges.”
Chinenye Oforkansi
“Before the loan I got from SSDO, I could barely feed my family. I struggled to pay my children’s school fees and school materials.”
Chinenye uses her room for petty trading. She couldn’t expand her business. She has grown her business since she accessed loan credit from the scheme. She is currently constructing a kiosk to accommodate her thriving business.
She now has an oil palm business. Her standard of living has significantly improved, and she caters to her children’s educational needs without stress.
Geraldine Okeh
Geraldine runs a restaurant business. She has been looking to diversify into cash crop production but was restrained by the lack of funds. However, her story is changing.
“Since I got the loan, I have been able to diversify into the poultry business. I have a registered farm where I plant economic crops.”
She’s showing no signs of slowing down as she’s already looking forward to her next loan grant. “With my next loan, I will add vegetable crops to the farm.”
“SSDO has changed my life and business. I am so happy and grateful for their effort.”
Benedict Udeneh
“I run a small restaurant. But I could not expand and meet my customer’s needs.”
Benedict couldn’t expand her restaurant business due to a lack of capital. The profit she made wasn’t enough to cater to her expansion needs. All the business afforded her was her daily needs. So if she didn’t cook the next day, there was no way the next meal was guaranteed.
However, after accessing the loan credit, things took a new turn. She has been able to establish poultry and an oil bean business.
“I can comfortably afford to foot my children’s education bills without stress. My standard of living has also significantly improved.”
