The smiles on her face and enthusiasm throughout the period of conversation is an indication that all is now well with Mrs. Veronica Ogugua.

A widow with three children, Mrs. Ogugua hailed from Anambra state. She has courageously weathered through the storm to survive the harsh economic conditions of life.

Born in 1972 into a polygamous home, she was not privileged to attain good, formal education due to lack of funds. Her father had three wives and so many children to cater for with his lean resources. This circumstance made her miserable and idle for several years: Later on, she went to Anambra state where she eventually acquired skills in sewing while serving as a house maid.

In 1995, she started business through the support of her mother who assisted her with a sewing machine as well as got her a shop. She got married in 1999 to Mr. Ogugua and was doing pretty well until agents of government demolished her shop in the year 2004. As if this was not enough cause for worry, she lost her husband through an auto crash later that year.

She recounted her sad experience thus: “Life has been a horrible experience for me. After the burial of my late husband, I was practically empty. His medical bills and burial expenses totally drained me financially. Before my husband died, I had no shop.The one I had was demolished and he was planning to secure another one for me before death struck. And because I owed, my landlord forcefully ejected me from my apartment.”

Although she was later able to secure a room apartment with the financial support of her husband’s relatives, she could not go back to her sewing business due to lack of funds. Where to generate income to cater for her children’s welfare and educational development caused her sleepless nights and anxiety. With her poor academic background, it was difficult for her to secure a white collar job.

It was while still in this state of depression that a friend told her about LAPO which prompted her to attend an informational meeting. There, she decided that LAPO loans were just what she needed to scale up and make enough money to support her children.She thereafter got enlisted in victory union in Gwagwalada Branch, Abuja and then started accessing loans from LAPO. Her first loan of N15, 000 was used to buy some of the needed materials.

With subsequent loans from LAPO, she has been able to rent a shop for her business and has furnished and equipped it to the taste of her customers. She has also diversified into the sales of wrappers. Amongst her assets are two sewing machines, one industrial waving machine and a generator.

Mrs. Ogugua realizes an average of N25,000 monthly as gain from her tailoring business. From these, she is now able to make adequate provisions for her children’s basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, education and healthcare.  

“My condition has changed for the better: Women should learn from my lessons. People are surprised about my progress in business. They had thought I won’t be able topay my children school fees but are now disappointed,’’ she said.

She ascribed her success to LAPO, which she said provided her with micro credit to establish and expand her business.

Mrs. Ogugua’s tailoring shop is located at Madam Mercy Road, Dagiri, Gwagwalada, Abuja. She is the leader of Victory union of LAPO.