Esther Nkem

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Esther Nkem by Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) in Nigeria. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 8 - 14 months, Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Esther sells drugs in her house. A business that she has been into for the past 2 years and she has been borrowing from LAPO Microfinance for the past 4 years. She opens her shop from dawn till night falls Monday to Saturday. With her last kiva loan, she bought 2 motor cycles at the rate of N50, 000 each, licensing and numbering cost N12, 000 for both motor cycles. The cycle is used for transport business. She is very happy with the organization as a source of fund at this crucial time. She supports her husband from the profit she makes in catering for the family’s well being.

At 39 years of age, Esther shows no sign of weakness from her business as she is very determined and focused to increase the prosperity of her business and that of her family. She has a child who is 11 year old. This gives her opportunity to do business to the fullest measure. She said with her next kiva loan, she will invest in her chemist shop. Esther is happy with LAPO Microfinance, kiva lender as this is seen from the smile on her face.

The walk to Esther’s home and business was an adventure. Because of poor drainage and seasonal rains, the entire road is flooded and closer resembles a river than a way for transportation. We had to leave the car, roll up our pants and trek through mud and water.

Esther said that the drainage started being very bad last year and seems to be continuing through this rainy season (April through September). She said that next year the community will have to come together an repair the drainage system before it gets to this point. They don’t expect any help from the government and have already collaborated this year to build raised wooden walkways through some of the deeper spots.

Luckily, Esther runs a number of businesses. During the flooding some have been affected more than others. Her school remains open, but she has had to close her chemist. Traffic is minimal now, as one might imagine, and not enough people are coming by her shop to buy medicine. With her Kiva loan, she had to get creative. She bought a motorcycle that she has sold through a rent-to-own agreement. This is helping balance out her family expenses during this period. As a responsible and profitable businesswomen, she often finds herself supporting not only her own children, but also helping with the school fees of her nieces and nephews.

More people than just her family rely on Esther. Her school also serves as space for a local church and she hosts the LAPO Union meetings for 30 other women who have received loans. They meet once a month to discuss their business challenges, encourage one another and pray. Some of the union members have also received Kiva loans. They are lucky because while the flooding around their homes nearby have added challenges to their businesses, many primarily operate at markets or out of shops outside of the flooded area.

Esther says that she is determined to keep growing her business. She wants to expand her school – adding more space and more than her current 3 teachers. She wants to grow her chemist (which sells medicine one dose at a time) into a pharmacy that can fill larger orders. She also hopes to continue her rent-to-own business, eventually moving from motorcycles to cars to transport buses.

Her message to Kiva lenders is that you are “wonderful” and “a blessing to Nigerian women.” She hopes that God will continue to bless you all.