An industrious and enterprising business woman, Mrs. Gloria Ofobuike has been a member of Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) since the year 2005.

Born 42 years ago, she hails from Anambra state, Nigeria and runs a popular restaurant cum outdoor catering business which is located beside Mobil filling station (immediately after the bridge) in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

A woman with a strong passion for success, the major constraint she encountered before she came in contact with LAPO was inadequate finance to broaden the scope of her business. This is responsible for the long stagnation which the business suffered for a very long period before intervention from LAPO. The little profit it attracted was scarcely enough to create the desired changes in the living condition of her family. It was while still enmeshed in this frustrating situation that one of her friends told her about the microfinance organization in the year 2005.

She thereafter participated in the compulsory six-week pre-loan business management training after which she became qualified for her first loan of N15,000. She promptly invested this money in her business and upon full repayment was advanced another loan of N25, 000. She has since passed through this stage of loan and now takes N40, 000 and beyond. 

With LAPO’s regular micro credit support and expert knowledge of the business, Ofobuike has been able to turn the fortunes of her business around. Her capital base has risen steadily from N15, 000 to about N200, 000, with monthly gain estimated at N130, 000. With this development, she has been able to attract and retain numerous customers. The place is always a beehive of activities especially in the evenings as long distant drivers and travelers often stop by to refresh themselves.

In her words: “With the support of LAPO, I have been able to expand my restaurant business further. I now have enough money to buy food items and drinks in large quantities and sell at moderate prices to my customers. In this place, we rarely sleep at night because that is when long distant drivers and travelers often stop by torefresh themselves.”

She considers this boost a miracle in view of the long stretch of years inwhich her business suffered serious retardation.

With her current financial position, Mrs. Ofobuike is now well able to contribute more meaningfully to her family budget especially in the area of education, feeding, clothing and rent.

Beyond regular and assets loans, Mrs. Ofobuike has benefited from social and health programmes of LAPO Development Foundation (LDF) such as health workshops and Gender, Environment and Leadership Training (GELT). These training, she said, have built herself-esteem as a woman and exposed her to basic family planning methods.

On the whole, Mrs. Ofobuike enjoys her relationship with LAPO and cherishes other benefits that have accrued to her by virtue of her membership. “I do not have any reason why I shouldl eave LAPO because it has done a great and marvelous thing for me. My business is growing and I am making profit.